Helping the Same Drug Be Absorbed More Effectively... Professor Lee Beom-jin Wins the Handok Academic Award

[Financial News] A researcher who opened up a new area in drug delivery with “Fattigation,” a technology that binds fatty acids to drugs so they form nanoparticles on their own, will receive this year’s Handok Academic Award. 

Handok and the Korean Pharmaceutical Society selected Professor Lee Beom-jin of Ajou University’s College of Pharmacy as the recipient of the 57th Handok Academic Award.
The Handok Academic Award was established jointly by Handok and the Korean Pharmaceutical Society in 1970 to encourage research in pharmacy. It is awarded to researchers who have produced outstanding research results for at least 15 years and devoted themselves to the advancement of pharmacy in Korea through active academic work.
Professor Lee has worked on drug delivery systems that enhance bioavailability by regulating the physicochemical and biological properties of pharmaceuticals, as well as research into improved new drugs. In particular, he established the concept of “Fattigation,” in which fatty acids are chemically bound to therapeutic drugs, peptides, or proteins so they self-assemble into nanoparticles, opening up a new area of research in drug delivery.
He has expanded his research to include formulation technologies that improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, patient-friendly drug delivery systems, long-acting injectables, and targeted anticancer nanoparticles. He has contributed to the academic advancement of pharmaceutics and nanomedicine by publishing numerous studies based on Fattigation nanotechnology in international journals.
His research has also made its way into industry. By transferring to companies technologies for long-acting injectables using Fattigation and patient-friendly orally disintegrating tablet formulations, he has helped strengthen the R&D competitiveness of Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industry.
He has also contributed to pharmacy education and academic development. He has served as chair of the Korean Association of Pharmacy Education and president of the Asian Pharmaceutical Federation, among other roles, and currently participates in international activities involving the International Pharmaceutical Federation and pharmacy education accreditation. He continues to work to improve pharmacy education systems, develop talent for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, and advance health care and pharmaceutical policy.
The award ceremony will be held on the 22nd at the 2026 Korean Pharmaceutical Society Fall International Conference at the Suwon Convention Center. The recipient will receive a Yakyeontap trophy and prize money of 20 million won. 

[email protected] Reporter Jung Myung-jin