Handok and Genexine have completed the construction of a new research institute and a headquarters building in Magok district, Gangseo-gu, Seoul and intend to accelerate the development of global new drugs. On May 24, Handok, Genexine, and ProGen held a Completion Ceremony for the Handok Future Complex and the Genexine ProGen Bio Innovation Park. The Handok Future Complex and Genexine ProGen Bio Innovation Park are designed for researchers to both focus on new drug development in an optimal environment and engage in innovative collaboration.

The Handok Future Complex consists of eight floors above ground and three below, with a total floor area of 21,837 m². The Handok R&D Center and subsidiary Innocube will move into the new building. Handok strengthened its R&D capabilities and infrastructure by integrating its Product Development Research Center and New Drug Development Research Center, which had been located in Junghwa-dong and Pangyo, respectively, into the Handok Future Complex. Completion of the Complex will enable Handok to strengthen its cooperation with affiliate Genexine and expand its innovation platform for new drug development through Innocube. While collaboration has mainly occurred in the clinical stage so far, Innocube’s role is to discover and nurture early-stage bio-healthcare startups. It will thereby shape a new and robust bio-venture ecosystem and contribute to the domestic healthcare industry.

The Genexine ProGen Bio Innovation Park, the new headquarters for Genexine and ProGen, has a gross floor area of 39,075 m² and consists of nine floors above ground and three floors below. Six floors are used by Genexine and two floors by ProGen, a partner company, while the parking lot and public space take up the rest. Focusing on the commercialization of new drug pipelines in the late clinical stage, Genexine is relocating its headquarters to strengthen work efficiency by bringing business development, clinical development, and research centers into one place.

The Handok Future Complex and Genexine ProGen Bio Innovation Park, covering an area of 60,912 m², was built over a period of two years, with construction beginning in 2019. Ceilings have been heightened to inspire creativity in researchers, research and lab spaces have been expanded, and a variety of spaces promote interactive communication and cooperation, including a meeting lounge, Open Lab, and cafeteria. In addition, walking paths, a library, and multi-concept atriums provide venues for creativity, while facilities to help balance work and life, such as a fitness center, a mother’s room, and an independent rest area, have been created to make it an attractive workplace for researchers.

The Handok Future Complex and Genexine ProGen Bio Innovation Park reflect efforts to reduce energy use and environmental pollution, such as through installation of solar systems and the use of eco-friendly materials, to protect the environment and create buildings that harmonize with nature. Both have been certified as green buildings that meet the grade 1 energy efficiency standard. In addition, a garden with contemporary art works, an exhibition displaying 80 relics from the Handok Museum, and a library full of books on health will be open to workers and residents in the area, and an auditorium furnished with the latest conveniences and equipment will be available for weddings and concerts as a way to contribute to the community in more ways than through research.