Boston, MA — On June 16 (local time), Chong Kun Dang jointly hosted the ‘2025 CKD Pharm Golden Ticket’ event at the Seaport Science Center in Boston, Massachusetts, in partnership with LabCentral, a prominent biotech startup incubator. This event marked a strategic effort to identify and support promising biotech innovations within the global hub of Boston’s biotechnology ecosystem.
The event was part of LabCentral’s ‘Luminescence Rise and Fun(d)’ program, a platform designed to discover and foster emerging biotech talent. Key figures including Chong Kun Dang’s President Kim Young-Joo, CKD USA’s CEO Kim Ho-Won, Boston Consul General Kim Jae-Hwi, Korea Health Industry Development Institute Director Kim Yong-Woo, US Branch President Park Soon-Man, and Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association (KPBMA) Chairperson Roh Yeon-Hong attended the ceremony. A record total of 43 biotech startups participated, marking the largest-scale event in its history.
During the event, Chong Kun Dang awarded the ‘Golden Ticket’ to InnDura Therapeutics, a startup selected through prior screening. The achievement grants InnDura a one-year opportunity to operate within LabCentral’s advanced research facilities at no cost and access to extensive global networking support. The selection process involved distinguished academic and industry experts, including Harvard professors Dr. Jinmo Park and Dr. Youngbeom Kim, as well as biotech specialist Dr. Debra Peattie.
The Golden Ticket program aims to support early-stage biotech companies with strong technological potential but limited funding, offering them access to LabCentral’s state-of-the-art lab space and community resources. Chong Kun Dang established its US subsidiary, CKD USA, in Boston last year and became a Gold Member of LabCentral, committing support at the Gold level from this year onward.
Through this initiative, Chong Kun Dang aims to proactively identify promising technologies and pipelines early in their development stage, thereby strengthening its position within the Boston biotech cluster. Additionally, the company plans to accelerate its global open innovation efforts and expand strategic partnerships with leading international pharmaceutical and biotech firms.
A Chong Kun Dang spokesperson stated, “The CKD Pharm Golden Ticket goes beyond simple sponsorship; it is a platform for open innovation in collaboration with global pharma companies to discover groundbreaking technologies. We will continue to expand our global network centered around CKD USA and strengthen R&D collaborations.”
LabCentral, managed by the Massachusetts state government, is a nonprofit organization recognized globally for its role in incubating biotech startups. Since its founding in 2013, LabCentral has supported more than 278 early-stage biotech companies, facilitating 180+ patents, 132 clinical trials, and attracting over $18.4 billion in investment. In 2024, approximately 10% of all early-stage biotech investments in the United States originated from companies incubated within LabCentral.
