Early Life and Education
Park Soon-jae was born on December 22, 1954, in Gunsan, South Korea. He graduated from Seoul High School in 1973. He then pursued higher education, earning a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Yonsei University in 1980. He furthered his studies in the United States, obtaining a PhD in biochemistry from Purdue University in 1985.
Rise to Success
His career began with research experience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 1986 to 1988. After returning to South Korea, Park took on various biotechnology research positions. In 1998, he became the head of development at LG Chem. In 2006, he became managing director of Dream Pharma. Park Soon-jae founded Alteogen in 2008. He has a 19.2% stake in Alteogen as of June 2024. In December 2024, Alteogen had the largest market capitalization in the KOSDAQ exchange.
Key Business Strategies
Alteogen's key business strategy revolves around developing biosimilars and biobetters. The company is known for its ALT-B4 enzyme technology that allows drugs to be administered subcutaneously. In 2024, Alteogen announced a licensing deal with Merck to use ALT-B4 for the cancer drug pembrolizumab, which led to a significant increase in the company's share price. In December 2025, Park Soon-jae stepped down as CEO of Alteogen to become the chairman of the board, focusing on long-term vision and strategy.
Philanthropy
Information on Park Soon-jae’s specific philanthropic endeavors is not readily available in the search results.