Ligand Pharmaceuticals announced on the 5th that it has recruited Dr. Han Jin-hwan, formerly of Merck, as the head of its new drug research institute.
Dr. Han is an expert who has led various cancer drug development programs, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs), and immune checkpoint inhibitors, during his 11 years at the global pharmaceutical company Merck (MSD).
Notable achievements include serving as the research team leader for the joint research project between Merck and the Japanese biopharmaceutical company PeptiDream on the PDC project. He also led the development of new therapeutic candidates utilizing TLR7 agonists, which are targeted immune modulators.
With Dr. Han's recruitment, Ligand Pharmaceuticals will also reorganize its research and development organization into two divisions: the ADC Research Institute and the New Drug Research Institute. The existing director, Jeong Cheol-woong, will head the ADC Research Institute, while Dr. Han will lead the New Drug Research Institute, focusing on the development of innovative drugs, including immune oncology drugs, and new platform development.
This organizational restructuring is a strategic decision aimed at further strengthening Ligand Pharmaceuticals' expertise in the ADC field and accelerating the expansion of its business into next-generation cancer therapies, according to the company.
Kim Yong-joo, CEO of Ligand Pharmaceuticals, stated, "Dr. Han Jin-hwan is an expert with global-level research and development capabilities in the fields of ADCs and immune oncology drugs," adding, "With Dr. Han's recruitment, we will maintain our strengths in the ADC field while simultaneously expanding our business into new platforms to leap forward as a comprehensive cancer drug development company."
Dr. Han obtained his Ph.D. in immunology from Tufts University and received the Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship awarded by the Cancer Research Foundation, working as a postdoctoral researcher at Rockefeller University and Emory University.
