The RNA-based new drug development company Rznomics has been selected as the first case in the national strategic technology verification system, with their technology ' RNA Trans-splicing Ribozyme-based gene therapy and Circular RNA Platform.'

 

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP) announced on the 28th that they have notified the results of the "1st National Strategic Technology Verification Application."

 

This system, introduced on March 15th, verifies whether technologies held or under R&D by research institutions, universities, or companies fall under national strategic technologies.

 

A total of 130 applications were received this time, and the review results notified that one was eligible and five were deferred.

 

Rznomics' technology was confirmed to fall under the category of gene delivery technology R&D among national strategic technologies. This technology can remove target RNA that causes intractable diseases and express therapeutic RNA, making it a gene therapy technology.

 

The five technologies deferred for further review were notified as such due to insufficient evidence and will be re-evaluated upon resubmission of supplementary data during the next announcement of the verification system.

 

Kwon Seok-min, Director General of the Science and Technology Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "As the national strategic technology nurturing and support system is still being established, with public-private efforts to secure national strategic technologies ongoing, we expect that the number of national strategic technology verifications will increase in the future."

 

Applications for national strategic technology verification are possible quarterly, with the second round of applications to be conducted in July.

 

If a company confirmed to possess national strategic technology has a market capitalization of at least 100 billion KRW and has raised over 10 billion KRW in venture financing in the last five years, they can apply for a technology exception listing with just one technology evaluation rated A or higher.

 

Previously, it required two technology evaluations, each rated at least A and BBB, respectively.