Vivozon, Inc.

Vivozon, Inc. is a South Korean biopharmaceutical research and development company headquartered in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do. Established on 1 June 2008, the company describes itself as a global innovative drug development company that built an efficacy-based new drug discovery system distinct from the conventional drug development paradigm. Its core therapeutic focus is pain and central nervous system (CNS) diseases, and it is best known for discovering the first-in-class non-narcotic analgesic opiranserin (VVZ-149) in less than a year after its founding. Vivozon's pipeline centers on novel chemical drugs that act on multiple targets to create synergistic efficacy. By applying efficacy-based screening from the early discovery stage, the company aims to derive candidate substances with high potential for successful Phase 2 clinical trials and to continue with global clinical development. Beyond opiranserin, the company is expanding its target combination of second-generation analgesic drug candidates and broadening its pipeline across CNS fields such as addiction, schizophrenia, depression, and Parkinson's disease. A second pipeline asset, VVZ-2471, is also featured on its website. Opiranserin (VVZ-149) injection has obtained product approval from South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) as a single-dose injectable for treating postoperative pain. Vivozon intends to expand it to various indications such as neuropathic pain and cancer pain through multiple administration routes. The company has conducted clinical development in South Korea and the United States, receiving MFDS approval for Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials and US FDA approval for a Phase 2 clinical trial of VVZ-149. Vivozon operates as part of a broader healthcare group. Together with Vivozon Pharmaceutical, it is evolving into a total healthcare group capable of developing new drugs and producing and selling finished drugs. Vivozon US and Vivozon Canada are US and Canadian subsidiaries that conduct global clinical trials and overseas cooperation for non-narcotic analgesics. The company maintains a headquarters and Medical Biology Research Institute in Yongin Techno Valley, a Seoul office, a US branch in Princeton, New Jersey, and a Canada branch in Toronto. Its leadership includes CEO and Chairman Doo-hyun Lee.

Vivozon, Inc. was established on 1 June 2008 in South Korea, and in the same year it was certified as a company-affiliated research institute. The company's early years, described on its website as a period of "Passion for progress" (2008–2012), focused on securing its foundation. In 2009 it established a multi-target drug development platform and identified the non-narcotic analgesic VVZ-149. Non-clinical studies of VVZ-149 began in 2010, alongside patent registration of a pain clinical testing method in Korea. In 2011 Vivozon was selected as a non-clinical project for innovative drug development by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, and it received a best project evaluation in 2013. In 2012 the substance patent for VVZ-149 was registered in Korea, the United States, the European Union, Japan, India, and China. The period 2013–2016, labeled "Challenge for innovation," saw Vivozon set its main pipeline. In 2013 the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) approved a Phase 1 clinical trial of VVZ-149, and the company was selected as a Phase 1 clinical project for innovative drug development by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, receiving a best project evaluation in 2015. In 2014 Vivozon received the Secretary's Award from the Korean Minister of Health and Welfare. In 2015 the MFDS approved a Phase 2 clinical trial of VVZ-149, and the US FDA also approved a Phase 2 clinical trial of VVZ-149. The substance patent for VVZ-149 was registered in Korea, and the company was selected as a Phase 2 clinical project for innovative drug development. Vivozon's website timeline continues with the years 2016, 2017, and "Current," under the themes "Towards a wider world." The company has since expanded its pipeline beyond pain into central nervous system diseases such as addiction, schizophrenia, depression, and Parkinson's disease. Opiranserin (VVZ-149) injection obtained product approval from the MFDS as a single-dose injectable for treating postoperative pain, and Vivozon plans to expand it to indications including neuropathic pain and cancer pain via multiple administration routes. A second pipeline candidate, VVZ-2471, is also presented on the company's website. Vivozon has grown into a group structure. Together with Vivozon Pharmaceutical, it is evolving into a total healthcare group capable of developing new drugs and producing and selling finished drugs. Vivozon US and Vivozon Canada serve as US and Canadian subsidiaries conducting global clinical trials and overseas cooperation for non-narcotic analgesics. The company's headquarters and Medical Biology Research Institute are located in Yongin Techno Valley, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do; it also maintains a Seoul office, a US branch in Princeton, New Jersey, and a Canada branch in Toronto. Doo-hyun Lee serves as CEO and Chairman.

• 2017

  Timeline period 'Towards a wider world' continues

• 2016

  Timeline period 'Towards a wider world' begins

• 2015

  MFDS approval for Phase 2 clinical trial of VVZ-149; US FDA approval for Phase 2 clinical trial of VVZ-149

• 2014

  Receipt of Secretary's Award from the Korean Minister of Health and Welfare

• 2013

  MFDS approval for Phase 1 clinical trial of VVZ-149; selected as Phase 1 clinical project for innovative drug development

• 2012

  Registration of substance patent for VVZ-149 in Korea, US, EU, Japan, India, and China

• 2011

  Selected as a non-clinical project for innovative drug development by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare

• 2010

  Initiation of non-clinical studies of VVZ-149; patent registration of pain clinical testing method (Korea)

• 2009

  Establishment of a multi-target drug development platform; identification of non-narcotic analgesic VVZ-149

• 2008

  Establishment of Vivozon and certification of company-affiliated research institute

Global innovative drug development company focused on first-in-class non-narcotic analgesics and CNS therapies.

• Opiranserin (VVZ-149) injection

  First-in-class non-narcotic analgesic approved by the MFDS as a single-dose injectable for postoperative pain; under development for neuropathic pain and cancer pain via multiple administration routes.

• VVZ-2471

  Pipeline candidate listed on Vivozon's website.

1. 1VIVOZON official website homepagevivozon.com
2. 2VIVOZON history pagevivozon.com
3. 3VIVOZON company pagevivozon.com
4. 4VIVOZON affiliates pagevivozon.com
5. 5Wikidata entry for Vivozon, Inc. (South Korea)wikidata.org