[Interview] 슬롯 무료 사이트 Jung-nam, CEO of Singularity Biotech
[by Kang, In Hyo] One day in 2004, 슬롯 무료 사이트 decades ago, while driving as usual, I began to experience unusual sensations in both of my eyes. The headlights of oncoming traffic appeared distorted, and my field of vision seemed to narrow. I even collided with a pillar while parking, and nighttime driving became increasingly more uncomfortable.
Concerned about these symptoms, I opted to visit a well-known, major hospital instead of a local ophthalmology clinic. The examination process was thorough, lasting approximately two to three hours. Finally, the doctor called me into the consultation room and said, “The test results are in.” The diagnosis was ‘Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP),’ a hereditary retinal disorder. It was, in essence, a pronouncement of eventual 슬롯 무료 사이트ness. The consultation lasted only five minutes, leaving me disoriented as I left the room.
However, after regaining my composure, I reentered the consultation room to inquire about the cause of the condition. The doctor responded simply, “I do not know the cause.” At the time, knowledge regarding retinitis pigmentosa was extremely limited. That same year, I joined the ‘Headquarters for the Eradication of Blindness Movement,’ an organization dedicated to supporting 슬롯 무료 사이트 with hereditary retinal diseases. It was then that I decided to raise awareness about this condition, both for myself and for others affected by it.
This story pertains to Choi Jung-nam, the chairman of the Korea Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness. For the past two decades, he has acted as a representative voice for 슬롯 무료 사이트, advocating not only for support but also for the advancement of treatment options for retinitis pigmentosa. Choi has taken it upon himself to find a cure and founded Singularity Biotech to begin developing cell therapy as a potential treatment for the disease.
On February 26, <THE BIO conducted an interview with Chairman 슬롯 무료 사이트 to discuss the origins of his company and its future direction. His visual impairment has progressed to the point where he can only perceive nearby objects. Nonetheless, the insights and experience he had accumulated over the past 20 years of battling the disease have become a strong foundation for his efforts to develop a cure. He was well-informed about both domestic and international developments in treatment and the current status. During the hour-long interview, he answered each question with clarity and depth, without hesitation.
◇Leading the way in raising awareness of retin슬롯 무료 사이트is pigmentosa as a genetic cond슬롯 무료 사이트ion, not just a genetic disease
A highly accomplished 40-year-old executive at a major corporation was unexpectedly diagnosed with 슬롯 무료 사이트ness. Upon hearing the term ‘hereditary retinal disease,’ my immediate reaction was fear, fear that this condition was genetic. The very concept of a ‘hereditary disease’ felt overwhelming, not only to me but also to the present and future of those affected. In addition, I was deeply concerned for my two daughters.
슬롯 무료 사이트’s two daughters are 슬롯 무료 사이트 Soo-jin, a musical actress, and 슬롯 무료 사이트 Soo-young, a member of the renowned K-pop group Girls’ Generation. Since 2012, 슬롯 무료 사이트 Soo-young has served as the public relations ambassador for the Korea Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness. For over a decade, she has organized an annual fundraising event called the ‘Beaming Effect,’ donating the proceeds and her personal funds to support research on rare ophthalmic diseases.
“At that time, information on retinitis pigmentosa was extremely limited,” Chairman Choi said. “Since even major portal sites described it solely as a genetic disorder, the associated stigma associated with it was particularly devastating for many 슬롯 무료 사이트, especially younger individuals.”
“I wanted to understand the nature of the disease and why it leads to blindness,” Choi further added. “That year, I joined the Korea Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness and met other 슬롯 무료 사이트 with similar conditions. Most of them were already blind, and since research on treatments was not yet active, I felt a sense of sorrow and thought, ‘I, too, will end up blind like them.’”
In 2004, Choi began researching the disease known as retinitis pigmentosa. He started translating and studying the latest research papers from the United States, specifically for 슬롯 무료 사이트 sharing his condition, and posting them to the Korea Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness’s platform. Over time, he found himself becoming a passionate advocate for retinitis pigmentosa, a rare and incurable genetic disorder. This naturally led to his appointment as the academic director of the Korea Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness, and eventually, as chairman, he continued his efforts to raise awareness of the disease.
“Thanks to the advancement in science and technology, it has been clarified that this disease is not purely a genetic disease,” 슬롯 무료 사이트 explained. “Approximately 75% of the genetic mutations in retinitis pigmentosa are not inherited, so it should be regarded as a genetic disorder rather than a genetic disease.”
◇From patient to research leader: embracing a new challenge as a 슬롯 무료 사이트 developer
Singularity Biotech, a company led by Chairman 슬롯 무료 사이트 as the CEO, is focused on developing treatments for rare and intractable eye diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa. Established in October 2023, the biotech company was co-founded by Chairman 슬롯 무료 사이트 Jung-nam, CTO Ryu Jeong-mook, a professor at Konyang University College of Medicine, and CMO Park Tae-kwan, a professor at the Department of Ophthalmology at Soonchunhyang University Hospital Bucheon. Park, an ophthalmologist, has extensive experience in researching retinitis pigmentosa and other related conditions, while Ryu, an expert in organoid manufacturing technology, developed the retinal organoids used in the cell therapy that Singularity Biotech is developing. 슬롯 무료 사이트 has been overseeing the company’s management as CEO since its inception last year.
“We founded Singularity Biotech with funding from a fund established primarily by 슬롯 무료 사이트 with retinitis pigmentosa,” Choi commented. “The company was established through investment from ‘Retina No. 1,’ a fund voluntarily raised by the Korea Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness.” Genaxis, a Korean bio-specialized accelerator (AC), serves as the entrusted management company (GP) for the ‘Retina No. 1 Private Investment Association,’ the first patient-led fund established in Korea.
“Singularity Biotech is the first company in Korea where a patient group has raised funds to establish a biotech firm,” Choi emphasized. “The heartfelt determination of 슬롯 무료 사이트 suffering from the lack of effective treatments has united to directly develop a solution.”
The name ‘Singularity’ in the company’s title refers to the concept of technological singularity, which represents a point where technological progress accelerates exponentially. According to 슬롯 무료 사이트, Singularity Biotech adopted this mission with the goal of creating a groundbreaking turning point in the treatment of incurable diseases through innovative advancements. “The Korean biotech industry should take a leading role in the field of retinal and ophthalmic diseases,” he said. “The first gene therapy for ophthalmic diseases has been developed, and cell therapy is also progressing actively.”
As the Korean biotechnology industry continues to develop, 슬롯 무료 사이트 emphasized the increasing need for leadership in the field of blindness-related diseases. “The eye is an organ that offers distinct advantages for research and clinical trials. Since it is a paired organ (two eyes), clinical trials can proceed even if one fails, and small doses of treatment can still be effective, which is an advantage over organs like the liver,” 슬롯 무료 사이트 further explained. “The eye contains nerve cells and blood vessels, so it can be directly observed from the outside, making it highly suitable for research and clinical trials. It also has a lower immune response, which reduces the likelihood of immune-related side effects compared to other organs.”
◇Cell therapy for retin슬롯 무료 사이트is pigmentosa in the preclinical stage, secured KRW 2 billion in the pre-A investment round
Currently, Singularity Biotech’s primary focus is on developing cell therapy for retinitis pigmentosa. The company is exploring methods to restore and activate the function of damaged visual cells using retinal progenitor cells derived from the company's retinal organoids. “The pipeline is still in the preclinical stage, and we plan to validate its safety and efficacy through upcoming clinical trials,” 슬롯 무료 사이트 expressed.
“This year, we plan to secure R&D funding through pre-Series A investment and thoroughly prepare for clinical trials,” he further explained. “We aim to attract KRW 2 billion (approximately USD 1.3 million) in pre-Series A investment w슬롯 무료 사이트hin the first quarter through the ‘Retina No. 2’ fund, in which a pharmaceutical company specializing in ophthalmic diseases is participating as a strategic investor (SI).”
The ultimate goal of Choi and Singularity Biotech is to offer hope for ‘overcoming blindness’ to 슬롯 무료 사이트 suffering from incurable eye diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa. “Retinitis pigmentosa is a rare, incurable genetic disorder that progressively deteriorates vision and ultimately causes blindness,” Choi emphasized. “The word ‘hope’ can sometimes feel like an empty echo to 슬롯 무료 사이트, but I believed that ‘someone had to create that hope,’ and eventually, I took it upon myself to develop a treatment.”
“Since the cost of retinal disease cell therapy in advanced countries is astronomically high, it is inevitable that 슬롯 무료 사이트 in Asia will struggle to access treatment,” he further explained. “While Korea offers high treatment accessibility due to its health insurance system, blind 슬롯 무료 사이트 in Asia lack such access, which is why I established the Asia Foundation with the mission to help them.”
“The United States has a well-established systematic research environment, supported by various disease-specific ophthalmology research institutes, including the National Eye Institute (NEI),” 슬롯 무료 사이트 highlighted. “Korea does not have a ‘National Eye Institute,’ so we lack a systematic research foundation. Since disease-specific research can lead to the development of technologies with far-reaching impacts, corporate participation and national budget support are essential.”
