240801 BICHEDAM Raises Investment from Y&ARCHER for Herbal-Based ROCK Inhibitor Antihypertensive Drug Development

BICHEDAM, a startup developing an antihypertensive therapy based on herbal compound–derived ROCK inhibitors, has secured investment from Y&ARCHER, the Daegu–Gyeongbuk Regional University Technology Holdings Company, and the Gyeongbuk Center for Creative Economy and Innovation.

The company aims to address issues such as dizziness and chest discomfort that may arise from the long-term use of conventional antihypertensive medications by developing a herbal-based antihypertensive therapy. Given that patients with hypertension are required to take medication on a long-term, often lifelong basis, there is a strong demand for safety. Accordingly, the enhanced safety profile of the company’s therapy for the growing hypertensive population is expected to serve as a significant competitive advantage in the market.

Centered on the extensive clinical experience and strong research capabilities of CEO Ho-bin Moon, a licensed Korean medicine doctor, the company is actively pursuing research and development and the commercialization of its therapies in collaboration with leading Korean medicine–related universities nationwide, as well as with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Korean Medicine (KIOM) and the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOMed). In addition, BICHEDAM has developed ‘BCD101,’ a candidate antihypertensive compound that selectively acts on systolic blood pressure, derived from herbal medicinal substances with demonstrated antihypertensive efficacy. Building on prior research through initiatives such as the Traditional Korean Medicine Therapeutic Technology Public Resource Project and the Korean Medicine Innovation Technology Development Program, the company continues to advance the development of a treatment targeting the unmet medical need of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH).

Kang-hyun Lee, Team Leader at Y&ARCHER, stated, “Our company developing a highly safe, herbal-based antihypertensive therapy was selected for investment because it addresses the evolving market environment and customer needs in a hypertension treatment market largely dominated by chemical drugs. We believe that if competitiveness is secured through combination use with existing antihypertensive therapies in clinical trials, this therapy has the potential to bring innovation to the market.” He added, “As a company developing new drugs based on Korean medicine, we also anticipate expansion into the development of herbal therapies for a range of conditions, including not only the isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) market but also cardiovascular and ophthalmological diseases.”

CEO Ho-bin Moon stated, “We have devoted our efforts to the development of BCD101, which can selectively regulate systolic blood pressure in elderly patients with low diastolic hypertension.” He added, “Through the development of scientifically validated natural-based therapies, we aim to provide safer and more innovative new drugs for patients with chronic diseases such as dementia and hypertension.”

Source : https://www.getnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=686470