AbbVie Korea and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) have named Curogen and Epibiotech as the first winners of the “KHIDI–AbbVie Biotech Innovator Award,” aimed at identifying innovative technologies and supporting the global expansion of Korean biotech companies.
The award ceremony was held Tuesday at BIO KOREA 2026 at COEX in Seoul, AbbVie Korea said.
Officials from AbbVie Korea and KHIDI, along with representatives from Curogen and Epibiotech, pose for a commemorative photo following the ceremony Tuesday. (Courtesy of AbbVie Korea)
Launched in February, the program targeted biotech companies with technologies and pipelines in AbbVie’s core research areas, including immunology, oncology, neuroscience, medical aesthetics, and specialty therapeutics. More than 80 companies applied, with Curogen and Epibiotech selected based on scientific validation, innovation, and global scalability.
Curogen is developing first-in-class therapies for autoimmune diseases by identifying novel targets and leveraging multi-mechanism approaches. The company is building a platform designed to modulate complex immune responses, moving beyond single-mechanism treatments.
Epibiotech develops therapies for hair loss disorders, including antibody-based treatments, and is advancing an AI-driven platform to improve efficiency from candidate discovery through development while enabling scalability across indications.
Each winner will receive 30 million won (about $20,330) and mentoring from AbbVie’s global R&D experts. Additional support includes strategic advisory services, networking opportunities, and commercialization support. KHIDI will also provide benefits such as office space at its Health Industry Innovation Startup Center, priority consideration for global expansion programs, and investment linkage opportunities.
Kang So-young, general manager of AbbVie Korea, said, “We appreciate the strong interest and participation in this award program. It is meaningful to recognize Korean biotech companies with innovative technologies aligned with AbbVie’s R&D strategy. We hope this program will help foster innovation and support the growth of domestic biotech companies.”
KHIDI President Cha Soon-do said, “The high level of interest and strong pool of applicants reaffirm the competitiveness of Korea’s bio-health industry. We will continue to strengthen open innovation platforms with global pharmaceutical companies and support domestic firms in expanding globally.”
The award is part of AbbVie’s broader open innovation strategy to support early-stage biotech companies through partnerships and collaboration.
Lee Han-soo
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