This article appeared in the Kookmin Daily on June 1, 2001.-----------------------------------------------------------[The Arrival of a Bio-era] In2Gen is developing anti-cancer drug and a cancer diagnosis kitHow convenient would it be if all kinds of cancer diagnosis tests could be performed with blood samples, and without cutting the skin? In2Gen of South Korea (CEO, Kim Dae-kee), which was established by SK chemicals, is a bio venture firm that inquires into the cause of cancers and performs cancer vaccine research based on those findings. The company develops not only next generation anti-cancer drugs, but also cancer diagnostic kits using blood samples. In particular, they recently targeted three cancer genes that have been manifested in more than 80% of malignant tissue found in the lungs, liver, and stomach of cancer patients. They are now arousing serious public interest by concentrating their research on developing a convenient cancer diagnostic technology, which proposes to use only a few drops of blood to research the substances secreted into human serum by these cancer genes．Established as a subsidiary firm of SK chemicals, which is now a large stockholder of the company, In2Gen is highly recognized thanks to its manufacture of the revolutionary drug ‘Sunpla’. This substance was developed by Dr. Kim Dae-kee after nine and a half years of strenuous effort, which has finally paid off as indicated by the 3 billion won in sales of Sunpla that SK chemicals recorded last year. Sunpla gained swift popularity due to its induction of lesser side effects than existing anti-cancer injections. In2Gen’s business mandate involves sending original research results related to genomes to its mother company, after which SK chemicals can take charge of the industrial applications and marketing．After he graduated from the College of Pharmacy at Seoul National University and received a doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the State University of New York (SUNY), Dr. Kim Dae-kee has been actively involved in the 암정복추진기획단. Its infrastructure is recognizable because it was established by 25 professional scientists including Dr. Kim, Dr. Bang Yung-jue (Director of Seoul National University Cancer Research Center), researcher Dr. Jeoung Doo-il (Ph.D. in Biology at Columbia University), and Dr. Seo Jeong-gon (Ph.D. in Life Science at Pohang Institute of Technology). The company proudly boasts a wealth of painstakingly accumulated know-how for the development of new drugs, new anti-cancer treatment technology from the SNU Cancer Research Center, and access to networks that connect U.S. cancer research centers and universities. This is why the company is aiming to launch itself from the foremost in the country to the first in the world. The commercialization of a detection kit for premature delivery, which will diagnose the presence of microbial infections by testing the amniotic fluid of pregnant women, is just ahead. Also, pharmaceuticals for preventing aging, sexual function reinforcing agents such as Viagra derivatives, and fetal disease diagnostics will be introduced soon．Dr. Kim remarked that, “It is very advantageous for a biotechnology venture company to cooperate with hospitals,” and “We will begin the real development for anti-cancer drugs next year, as soon as the serum test result for cancer genes comes out.” /Han Byeong-Kwon, reporter