ABOUT US
Overview
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SoVarGen is building a preeminent global biopharmaceutical company based on the discovery and development of innovative diagnosis and treatment for FCD (Focal Cortical Dysplasia) as the first in the world.
We aim to develop novel diagnostics and therapeutics for incurable brain disorders and to continue our scientific research to improve quality of life for patients and their families.
CEO Message
Epilepsy is a major brain disorder that affects over 50 million people worldwide. Nearly 30 percent of patients suffer intractable epilepsies which are not controlled by conventional drugs. The beginning of SoVarGen came from research by professor Jeong Ho Lee, KAIST, who was the first to identify the causes of intractable epilepsies. Professor Lee also holds an important position, as CTO of SoVarGen.
Over the past several years, we have applied for core technology patents in Korea and the United States, including patents for producing animal model with intractable epilepsy for the first time in the world. We are currently conducting clinical trials with a major medical clinic.
Our vision is to become the world’s first and best biopharmaceutical company, continuously developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics for incurable brain disorders.
Based on our core values of Sincerity, Values for Patients, and Global Standard, we will focus on research with experts around the world. Furthermore, we promise to contribute to patient’s health and happiness.
Thank you.
Byung Tae Kim
President & CEO
Mission and Values
Our Vision and Mission
Being a pioneer in diagnosis and treatment for FCD and intractable brain disorders as one of the world’s first and best global biopharmaceutical companies, this is SoVarGen’s vision. We focus on somatic variations genomics and take risks to make us leaders in the research and development of medicines to transform FCD treatment.
  • We aim to develop novel diagnostics and therapeutics for incurable brain disorders.
  • We pioneer the new concept that low-level of genomic alteration acquired in the brain can cause various neurological disorders such as intractable epilepsies, brain tumors, autism, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
  • We provide the advanced diagnostics to accurately detect brain-only mutations with low frequency and guide clinicians and patients toward the appropriate diagnosis and treatment decision.
  • We discover new drugs based upon genetically and molecularly validated targets in patients’ brain as well as best disease models with brain mutations.
To improve quality of life for patients and their families, that is our mission to continue our scientific research.
Our Core Values
We believe that we can change lives, working with Sincerity and Values for Patients and making a constant effort to produce the best result suitable for Global Standard.
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SINCERITY
We are sincere, open and ethical.
We trust in our words and actions.
VALUES FOR PATIENTS
Patients are at the centre of everything
we do at SoVarGen and values for patients
is a key element of our mission to achieve.
GLOBAL STANDARD
We seek excellence in delivering
the highest quality of products and services
suitable for global standard.
Leadership
Jeong Ho Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Lee is CTO of SoVarGen and Associate Professor of Graduate School of Medical Science & Engineering in Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
Dr. Lee received his Ph.D. and M.D. degree from Yonsei University College of Medicine (Korea) and postdoctoral training at Institute for Genomic Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, UC San Diego/HHMI.
Byung Tae Kim
President & Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Kim is President & Chief Executive Officer at SoVarGen. Prior to joining SoVarGen, Mr. Kim served as several leadership positions over the years, most recently as president of Seoul Tourism Organization. Prior to that, he was president of BT&I (currently SM C&C) and Senior Advisor at BioLeaders. He received the Tower Industry Medal for quality management from Korea government.
He eared his M.S. degree in Sungkyunkwan University.
Se Yeon Oh, M.D., Ph.D.
Auditor
Dr. Oh serves as Auditor at SoVarGen. He is also director of Yonsei Oh & Kim Clinic.
Dr. Oh received his Ph.D. and M.D. degree from Yonsei University College of Medicine (Korea).
Min Ho Kim
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Kim serves as Chief Financial Officer. He had many experience in financial and bio medical companies. Prior to joining SoVarGen, he was president of SFC, Asset Management Div. director of Green Fire & Marine Insurance Co. and president of Green Pusan Venture Capital.
He received his MBA degree from New York University (USA) and BA degree from Korea University.
Partnership
To develop truly innovative diagnostics and therapeutics for incurable brain disorders, SoVarGen are actively seeking partnerships and collaboration opportunities from preclinical research center to global partnerships.
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Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
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Severance Hospital
If you are interested in partnering with us, please contact  km9555@naver.com
History
2018
  • Completed innovated new drug pipeline of ASO based brain mutation (Patent of animal model is mandatory required)
  • Completed setup of NGS based brain mutation diagnosis service
  • Identified causes of childhood brain tumor and development of treatment (publication approval in Nature Medicine)
  • Identified brain mutations leading to intractable brain tumors and presented new treatment (publication approval in Nature)
  • Established SoVarGen Co., Ltd with KAIST professor joint
  • Patents of Incurable brain disorders transferred to SoVarGen
  • Identified mechanisms of epilepsy and autism caused by brain somatic mutations (presented in Neuron)
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2017
  • Started clinical trial phase II for intractable epilepsies caused by brain somatic mutations
  • Awarded Suh Kyungbae Foundation (SUHF) Investigator prize
  • Applied for a patent on prevention and treatment of glioblastoma (Korea)
  • Applied for a patent on animal model induced glioblastoma and drug screening using the same animal model (Korea)
  • Applied for a patent on diagnostic compositions related glioblastoma and related diseases (Korea)
2016
  • Awarded Wunch Medical Prize (Young Medical Scientist), Korean Medical Association & Boehringer Ingelheim
  • Received three visits of clinical trial representative from Novartis Headquarters regarding clinical trail plan
  • Applied for a patent on prevention or treatment compositions for intractable epilepsies including mTOR inhibitor (Korea)
  • Applied for a patent on diagnosis and treatment compositions for intractable epilepsies (Korea)
2015
  • Invited to present in Novartis medical lab, Boston, USA
  • Invited to present in Novartis Advisory Board Meeting, Switzerland
  • Awarded Pediatric Epilepsies Award, CURE (Citizens United for Research on Epilepsy)
  • Applied for a patent on NGS-based diagnostic kit for diagnostics of intractable epilepsies (Korea)
  • Identified causes of brain somatic mutations in MTOR leading to intractable epilepsy and presented new treatment (presented in Nature Medicine)
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2014
  • Applied for a patent on Animal Model for epilepsy and method for producing the same (USA)
  • Applied for a patent on brain somatic mutations associated to epilepsy and uses thereof (USA)
  • Applied for a patent on animal model for epilepsy and method for producing the same (Korea)
  • Applied for a patent on brain somatic mutations associated to epilepsy and uses thereof (Korea)
2013
  • Applied for a patent on biomarker for epilepsy diagnostics
  • Awarded Asan Medical Prize (Young Scientist), Asan Foundation
2012
  • Identified brain somatic mutations as cause of intractable epilepsy (presented in Nature Genetics)
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Location
Daejeon, Korea (SoVarGen Headquarters)
Suite F107, KAIST Munji Campus, 193 Munji-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon,
Republic of Korea (34051)
Phone : +82–42–350-4246
Fax : +82–42–350–4240
Seongnam, Korea (SoVarGen Institute)
1st Fl, Silicon Park A, 255beon-gil 35, Pangyo-ro,
Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea (13486)
Phone : +82–70–5222-2770
Fax : +82–70–8610–0150
Email : km9555@naver.com