Ildong Pharmaceutical Signs MOU with Welt for Joint Development of AI Digital Combination Pharmaceuticals

On June 11, Ildong Pharmaceutical announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Welt, a digital healthcare specialist, to jointly develop and commercialize AI-powered digital combination pharmaceuticals.

Sungji Kang, CEO of Welt (center), Woonsup Yoon, CEO of Ildong Pharmaceutical (right), and Jaejun Lee, CEO (left), are taking a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement. Ildong Pharmaceutical

This agreement aims to develop digital combination pharmaceuticals that enhance patient medication adherence and treatment outcomes by combining Ildong Pharmaceutical’s portfolio of pharmaceuticals and health supplements with Welt’s AI agent platform, DrugOS™, and to commercialize these products in both domestic and global markets.

DrugOS™ is a digital combination platform that integrates an AI agent with medications to support medication timing management, adverse event monitoring, adherence management, and prediction of treatment discontinuation risks. It operates based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Prescription Drug Use-Related Software (PDURS) guidelines and Korea’s Digital Medical Product Act system, featuring continuous patient interaction and comprehensive management throughout the treatment process.

The two companies initiated their collaboration in advance of the implementation of the Digital Medical Product Act last year and the introduction of digital combination pharmaceutical guidelines in the second half of this year. Through this partnership, they plan to accumulate real-world evidence (RWE), verify improvements in medication adherence and treatment outcomes, and strengthen competitiveness in the digital combination pharmaceutical market.

According to the agreement, the companies will first apply DrugOS™ to over-the-counter medicines and health supplements, including the Aronamin series, to validate the market and accumulate data. By utilizing QR codes and package-linked methods, they will enhance consumer accessibility, and based on the accumulated RWE data, plan to expand application to prescription drugs, new drugs, and improved drugs in the future.

The companies will also pursue joint development to gradually apply DrugOS™ to Ildong Pharmaceutical’s major product lines, upgrading the existing pharmaceutical portfolio into an AI-based digital combination pharmaceutical portfolio. Ildong Pharmaceutical will be responsible for commercialization and regulatory affairs, while Welt will handle DrugOS™ platform operation and data analysis to support digital combination pharmaceutical development.

Additionally, based on the real-world evidence and clinical data accumulated in the domestic market, the companies plan to pursue joint co-license out agreements with global pharmaceutical firms. As global demand for new treatment models combining digital technology and pharmaceuticals continues to grow, their strategy is to leverage domestic success cases to seek expansion into overseas markets.

Yoon Woongseop, CEO of Ildong Pharmaceutical, stated, “The convergence of pharmaceuticals and digital technology will become a new healthcare paradigm that goes beyond simple medication reminders to improve patients’ treatment experiences and outcomes. Through our collaboration with Welt, we will deliver differentiated value to users and lead the digital combination pharmaceutical market.”

Kang Sungji, CEO of Welt, commented, “DrugOS is a platform that transforms conventional medications into digital combination pharmaceuticals that interact with patients. By creating synergy between Ildong Pharmaceutical’s products and AI agents, we will support medication management, adverse event response, and improved treatment adherence, and clinically demonstrate enhanced treatment outcomes based on these advancements.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.