We regenerate
cartilage
Not just pain relief — a First-in-Class therapy that rebuilds the cartilage itself.
COMPANY
A drug discovery company
built on 30 years of science
Founded in 2023 by Professor Yongwon Choi (University of Pennsylvania) and Professor Soo Young Lee (Ewha Womans University) — long-time collaborators since The Rockefeller University — to regenerate cartilage and resolve autoimmune inflammation.
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- FoundedOctober 2023
- CEOHyunsang Mook
- Based inBundang, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
- PartnersEwha Womans University
- Backed byTIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startup)
PIPELINE
Three programs for
high unmet medical need
Diversified across osteoarthritis, autoimmune disease and immuno-oncology.
01
NPB001
OSTEOARTHRITISA small molecule that blocks OSCAR–collagen binding to regenerate cartilage.
02
NPB002
AUTOIMMUNEAn antibody that calms inflammation across arthritis, sepsis, IBD and psoriasis models.
03
NPB003
IMMUNO-ONCOLOGYAn immuno-oncology antibody that blocks a novel immune target in melanoma and lung cancer.
Preclinical results are not predictive of clinical outcomes.
EVIDENCE
Cartilage regrew
after disease had set in
The red layer is cartilage. It thinned and was lost in the placebo group, while NPB001 restored cartilage thickness.
Across all four measures, NPB001 (blue bars) scored markedly lower than placebo (red bars). Safranin O staining · DMM mouse model. NPB001 was dosed after degeneration had already progressed, yet the cartilage layer recovered.
Built on foundational work in Nature, J. Clin. Invest., PNAS and Nature Communications.
ONE HEALTH
Dogs first,
then people
One foundational technology takes on joint health in both animals and people — beginning with canine osteoarthritis and advancing into human medicine.
Canine OA→Human medicine
LEADERSHIP
Proven leadership,
world-class science
Hyunsang Mook
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
- CEO, Medifron DBT — led global licensing deals
- 3rd Director, Korea's government-wide drug development program
- Founding Director, Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF) · ~KRW 2.2T
- Board Chair, First Bio
- B.S. & M.S., Seoul National University
Yongwon Choi, Ph.D.
CO-FOUNDER · SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
- Ph.D. in Biochemistry, University of Illinois College of Medicine (1988)
- Research Fellow, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (1988–1992)
- Head, Lab of Immunology, The Rockefeller University (1992–2001)
- Professor of Pathology & Lab Medicine, UPenn (2001–present)
- Leonard Jarett Professor (2010–present)
- Ho-Am Prize (2006) · Lady Barbara Colyton Prize (2007)
Soo Young Lee, Ph.D.
CO-FOUNDER · SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
- Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Korea University (1993)
- Postdoctoral fellow, The Rockefeller University (1994–1998)
- Professor, Life Science, Ewha Womans University (1999–present)
- Visiting Professor, University of Pennsylvania (2010)
- Director, Multitasking Macrophage Research Center (2023–present)
- KSBMR Academic Award (2022) · President (2023)
MEDIA
Newsroom
082026
Hyunsang Mook appointed CEO
The founding Director of Korea's KDDF joins to accelerate the clinical pipeline and launch a companion-animal health business.
092025
Selected for the TIPS program
Secured R&D funding through Korea's national technology incubator program.
102023
NewPath Bio founded
Established by Professors Yongwon Choi (UPenn) and Soo Young Lee (Ewha).
CONTACT
Let's build
the new path together
We welcome partnering, licensing and investment inquiries.
ADDRESS
10F, 262 Hwangsaeul-ro, Bundang-gu,
Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea