GCCL Signs Strategic MOU with KBIOHealth New Drug Development Center to Strengthen Linkages Across the Drug Development Ecosystem

▶ The two organizations will collaborate on joint national R&D projects, research initiatives, and network infrastructure support

GCCL Co., Ltd. (GCCL), a global clinical trial laboratory services provider, announced on the 13th that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the New Drug Development Center of the Osong Medical Innovation Foundation (hereinafter “KBIOHealth”) on March 12 to contribute to the advancement of clinical research and the pharmaceutical industry.

The signing ceremony was held at GCCL headquarters and attended by key representatives from both organizations, including Hye Jung Han, Center Director of the KBIOHealth New Drug Development Center, and Kwan Goo Cho, CEO of GCCL. During the ceremony, the two parties reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration and discussed ways to establish a practical linkage structure between drug development R&D and the clinical trial sample analysis industry, enabling research outcomes generated through public research infrastructure to be seamlessly advanced into the clinical stage.

Through this MOU, the two organizations plan to cooperate in various areas, including: ▲ strengthening linkages between Korea’s clinical trial sample analysis industry and the drug development ecosystem, ▲ collaboration on national R&D projects and joint research initiatives, ▲ exchange of technologies, academic expertise, and professional talent through the co-planning and operation of educational programs, ▲ joint marketing activities such as exhibitions, seminars, and promotional initiatives, and ▲ sharing and utilizing domestic and global networks, infrastructure, and resources.

In particular, this agreement goes beyond a simple institutional partnership and focuses on enhancing the practical competitiveness of Korea’s drug development ecosystem by combining public research infrastructure with industrial execution capabilities in analysis services. By integrating the KBIOHealth New Drug Development Center’s public research infrastructure with GCCL’s expertise in clinical trial sample analysis and project execution, the two organizations aim to establish an organically connected, step-by-step support framework that ensures technologies accumulated in the R&D stage can be reliably implemented in clinical trials.

Hyejung Han, Center Director of the KBIOHealth New Drug Development Center, said, “This agreement will serve as a meaningful opportunity to promote the practical application of domestic research outcomes and strengthen industrial competitiveness by linking drug development support infrastructure with specialized clinical trial analysis capabilities. We will continue to expand cooperation with a wide range of industry partners to help revitalize Korea’s new drug development ecosystem.”

Kwan Goo Cho, CEO of GCCL, said, “Clinical trial sample analysis should go beyond simply performing tests and serve as a strategic partner throughout the drug development process. Collaboration with a public drug development support institution presents an important opportunity to further strengthen the research foundation of Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industry. Through our partnership with the KBIOHealth New Drug Development Center, GCCL will support domestic R&D achievements in gaining global clinical competitiveness.”

Meanwhile, the KBIOHealth New Drug Development Center is a public institution under the Ministry of Health and Welfare that supports the development of biopharmaceutical innovations by industry, academia, research institutes, and hospitals through world-class infrastructure. In particular, it focuses on providing early-stage development support for antibody therapeutics, recombinant protein therapeutics, cell and gene therapies, and vaccines.

GCCL, a subsidiary of the GC Group, is a leading total solution provider for clinical trial sample analysis, offering an integrated "one-stop lab solution" with central, bioanalysis, and BSL-3 labs under a single system. With tailored solutions, GCCL delivers precise and efficient analytical services across all phases of clinical trials, solidifying its position as a trusted partner in new drug development. Leveraging advanced platforms and LIMS, the company supports partners across APAC and beyond with customized and compliant solutions. In recognition of its leadership, GCCL recently received Frost & Sullivan's 2025 Best Practices Customer Value Leadership Award in the Asia-Pacific clinical sample analysis services industry.