PROFILE

• Ph.D. Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, (Thesis advisor: Dr. Byung-Ok Choi) (2015-2020)
Ph.D. Dissertation, Novel Histone deacetylase 6 inhibitors improve myelination and axonal transport on Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A and type 2F
• M.S. Pharmacology, East-West Medical Science of Kyunghee University, Republic of Korea (Dr. Hocheol Kim) (2003-2005)
• B.S. Biomedical engineering, Kyunghee University, Republic of Korea (1999-2003)

• Biology and Pharmacology Scientist with over 19 years of experience in pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience in projects including immunology, metabolism, neurology, oncology from target identification and validation, and clinical development to Phase I/II trials
• Experience in managing a broad scientific program utilizing relevant in vitro and in vivo pharmacology
• Proven track record of in vivo pharmacology background in developing various preclinical disease animal models, designing preclinical efficacy studies, and evaluating PK/PD/efficacy correlations
• Proven track record in project development (5 INDs)

CKD Research Institute (2007.10 – present)
• Director of Department of Pharmacology Group (2023~)
• Director of Department of Pharmacology I (2021~)
• Principal research scientist (2016-2020)
• Senior research scientist (2008-2015)
• Research scientist (2007- 2008)

Led multiple small molecule drug discovery projects, managed team and resources, and presented progress and issues

Pharmacology and Biology Director (2021 -),
Immunology/ Neurology/ Metabolic disease/ Oncology
• Responsibility for all pharmacological and biological research
(small molecule, gene therapy, antibody, ADC)
• Managed collaboration with clinical research team and BD team for new drug development and licensing out activity
 Out-license CKD-510 to Novartis
 CKD-510 for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease/Atrial fibrillation, Phase2 planned
 CKD-506 for Idiopathic pulmonary disease/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, intra-nasal, L/O ongoing
 CKD-504 for neurodegenerative disorders, Phase1
 CKD-703 (cMET-ADC) for non-small cell lung cancer, GLP study ongoing
 Oral GLP-1R agonist (small molecule) for type2 diabetes and obesity
 Undisclosed drug (small molecule) for tauopathy and Alzheimer’s disease
 Undisclosed drug (small molecule) for atopic dermatitis
 Undisclosed drug (small molecule) for hypertrophic scar/colloid
 Undisclosed drug (antibody, small molecule) for cachexia
 Undisclosed drugs (bispecific antibody) for immune-oncology
 Undisclosed drugs (ADC) for solid cancer
 Undisclosed drugs by Open-innovation

Project leader, HDAC6 (2010 - 2020),
Immunology/Pulmonary/Neurology
• Lead the HDAC6 project develop clinical candidates for various indications
• Pharmacology/ Biology team leader, understand mechanisms of action of HDAC6 and expand to various indications
 CKD-510 for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
 CKD-506 for Pulmonary diseases such as Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Idiopathic pulmonary disease
 CKD-506 for Autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Inflammatory bowel disease, Uveitis
 CKD-504 for Huntington’s disease and neurodegenerative disorders
 HDAC6 inhibitor for Multiple myeloma (2011~2012)
• Co-developed preclinical and clinical strategy
• Co-developed strategy to define PK/PD/efficacy relationship and optimal dosing regimens.
• Managed collaboration with extramural researches including CROs and academies.

Project Co-leader/Biology Lead, LOXL2/VAP1 (2018 - 2020),
Non alcoholic steatohepatitis
• Biology lead the LOXL2/VAP1 program
• Establish drug screening system of LOXL2/VAP1 program and evaluate in vitro and in vivo data
• Pharmacology/ Biology team leader, drive the lead optimization

Project Co-leader/Biology Lead, GPR119 (2009 – 2011, 2019 - 2020),
Type2 Diabetes Mellitus/Non alcoholic steatohepatitis
• Co-lead the GPR119 program
• Establish drug screening system of GPR119 program and evaluate in vitro and in vivo data
• Pharmacology/ Biology team leader, drive the lead optimization program and expand clinical indication

Project Co-leader/Biology Lead, CETP (2009 - 2012),
Dyslipidemia
• Co-lead the CETP program develop a clinical candidate
• Establish drug screening system of CETP program and evaluate in vitro and in vivo data
• Pharmacology/ Biology team leader and drive the program from lead optimization to clinical candidate nomination (CKD-519)
• Co-developed preclinical and clinical strategy
• Co-developed strategy to define PK/PD/efficacy relationship and optimal dosing regimens.
• Phase I study was completed in Australia
• Managed collaboration with extramural researches including CROs and academies.

Project Co-leader/Biology Lead, PDE5 (2008 - 2010),
Benign prostatic hyperplasia/ Overactive bladder syndrome
• Pharmacology/ Biology leader, Co-lead the PDE5 program develop a clinical candidate (CKD-533)
• Establish drug screening system and evaluate in vitro and in vivo data in Benign prostatic hyperplasia and Overactive bladder syndrome
• Managed collaboration with extramural researches including CROs and academies.

 

1. Alec S T Smith, Jong Hyun Kim, Chanho Chun, Ava Gharai, Hyo Won Moon, Eun Young Kim, Soo Hyun Nam, Nina Ha, Ju Young Song, Ki Wha Chung, Hyun Myung Doo, Jennifer Hesson, Julie Mathieu, Mark Bothwell, Byung-Ok Choi, Deok-Ho Kim. HDAC6 inhibition corrects electrophysiological and axonal transport deficits in a human stem cell based model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (Type2D). Advanced Biology. 2022 Feb;6(2):32101308
2. Daekwon Bae, Ji-Young Lee, Nina Ha, Jinsol Park, Jiyeon Baek, Donghyeon Suh, Hee Seon Lim, Soo Min Ko, Taehee Kim, Da Sm Jeong, Woo-Chan Son. CKD-506: A novel HDAC6-selective inhibitor that exerts therapeutic effects in a rodent model of multiple sclerosis. Scientific Reports. 2021 Jul;11:14466
3. Daekwon Bae, Youngil Choi, Jiyoung Lee, Nina Ha, Donghyeon Suh, Jiyeon Baek, Jinsol Park, Woochan Son. M-134, a novel HDAC6-selective inhibitor, markedly improved arthritic severity in a rodent model of rheumatoid arthritis when combined with tofacitinib. Pharmacol Rep. 2021 Feb; 73(1): 185-201
4. Nina Ha, Young Il Choi, Namhee Jung, Ju Young Song, Dae Kwon Bae, Min Cheol Kim, Yong Jae Lee, Hyeseung Song, Geon Kwak, Soyeon Keong, Saeyoung Park, Soo Hyun Nam, Sung-Chul Jung, Byung-Ok Choi. A novel histone deacetylase 6 inhibitor improves myelination of Schwann cells in a model of Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 1A. Br J Pharmacol. 2020 Nov; 177(22): 5096-5113
5. Jin Kuhn Park, Yu Jin Jang, Bo Ram Oh, Jieun Shin, Daekwon Bae, Nina Ha, Young il Choi, Gi Soo Youn, Jinseu Park, Eun Young Lee, Eun Bong Lee, Yeong Wook Song. Therapeutic potential of CKD-506, a novel selective histone deacetylase 6 inhibitor, in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2020 Jul 25;22(1):176.
6. Jung Won Lee, Soung-Min Lee, Jaeyoung Chun, Jong Pil Im, Su-Kil Seo, Nina Ha, Young Il Choi, Joo Sung Kim. Novel Histone Deacetylase 6 Inhibitor CKD-506 Inhibits NF-κB Signaling in Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Macrophages and Ameliorates Acute and Chronic Murine Colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2020 May 12;26(6):852-862
7. Eum Wha Choi, Ji Woo Song, Nina Ha, Young Il Choi, Sungjoo Kim. CKD-506, a novel HDAC6-selective inhibitor, improves renal outcomes and survival in a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus. Sci Rep. 2018 Now 23;8(1):17297
8. Bo Ram Oh, Dong-Hyeon Suh, Daekwon Bae, Nina Ha, Young Il Choi, Hyun Jung Yoo, Jin Kyun Park, Eun Young Lee, Eun Bong Lee, Yeong Wook Song. Therapeutic effect of a novel histone deacetylase 6 inhibitor, CKD-L, on collagen-induced arthritis in vivo and regulatory T cells in rheumatoid arthritis in vitro. Arthritis Res Ther. 2017 Jul 3;19(1):154
9. Ji-Yon Kim, So-Youn Woo, Young Bin Hong, Heesun Choi, Jiwoo Kim, Hyunjung Choi, Inhee Mook-Jung, Nina Ha, Jangbeen Kyung, Soo Kykung Koo, Sung-Chul Jung, Byung-Ok Choi. HDAC6 Inhibitors Rescued the Defective Axonal Mitochondrial Movement in Motor Neurons Derived from the Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells of Peripheral Neuropathy Patients with HSPB1 Mutation. Stem Cells Int. 2016 Dec 2016:9475981
10. Jae-Hwan Park, In-Chang Hwang, Nina Ha, Sera Lee, Jung Min Kim, Sung Sook Lee, Hosung Yu, In-Taek Lim, Jun-A You, Dal-hyun Kim. Effects of the anti-sepsis drug, (S)-1-(α-naphthylmethyl)-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (CKD-712), on mortality, inflammation, and organ injuries in rodent sepsis models. Arch Pharm Res. 2011 Mar;34(3):485-94
11. Dae-Hee Lee, Nina Ha, Yung-Min Bu, Hyoung Il Choi, Yoo Guen Park, Yon Bum Kim, Mi-Yeon Kim, Hocheol Kim. (2006) Neuroprotective Effect of Buddleja officinalis Extract on Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats. Biol Pharm bull. 2006 Aug;29(8):1608-12
12. Yungmin Bu, Zhen Hua Jin, Sun Soung Park, Sunkyung Baek, Sungju Rho, Nina Ha, Seong Ku Park, Hocheol Kim, Sun Yeo Kim. (2005) Siberian ginseng reduces infarct volume in transient focal cerebral ischaemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. Phytother Res. 2005 Feb;19(2):167-9