SuPine Therapeutics Inc., a biotech startup founded by Professor Jeong Beom Kim of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNIST, was selected as the final winner of the 2025 SelectUSA World Finals Pitching Competition, held in Washington, D.C., on May 13, 2025.
The global competition, featuring over 300 startups and established companies from more than 100 countries, showcased innovative technologies and business models aimed at attracting U.S. investments. SuPine Therapeutics Inc. was recognized for its pioneering hydrogel-based treatment for spinal cord injury, demonstrating strong clinical potential and market viability.
Professor Jeong Beom Kim is giving the final pitch at the ‘2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit World Finals’ competition. l Image Credit: Professor Jeong Beom Kim (Dept. of Biomed. Eng., UNIST)
Organized by the International Trade Administration (ITA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the SelectUSA Investment Summit is the premier event in the United States dedicated to promoting job-creating business investments. This year’s summit attracted over 5,500 participants, including investors, government officials, economic development organizations (EDOs), and industry experts, including Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. Adding to the event’s prominence, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a video keynote.
Since its inception, SelectUSA has facilitated over $270 billion in investments and supported the creation of more than 240,000 jobs nationwide. The summit’s pitch competition serves as a key platform for startups to showcase innovative technologies and strategies for entering the U.S. market.
SuPine Therapeutics Inc. developed SuPine Gel, the world’s first implantable hydrogel designed to inhibit scar formation and promote nerve regeneration in spinal cord injuries. This breakthrough aims to address a critical unmet medical need and has the potential to improve patient outcomes globally.
Professor Jeong Beom Kim (right) is honored with congratulations from Ashok Pinto, Executive Director of SelectUSA, (left). l Image Credit: Professor Jeong Beom Kim (Dept. of Biomed. Eng., UNIST)
Professor Kim expressed his excitement, stating, “It is a tremendous honor for a Korean startup to achieve victory at this international competition.” He continued, “This milestone will boost our efforts to expand into the U.S. and other global markets, as we remain dedicated to improving patients’ quality of life worldwide through our innovative therapies.”
Founded on hydrogel technology licensed from UNIST, SuPine Therapeutics Inc. is dedicated to developing therapies for spinal cord injuries. Last year, the company received approval from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency of Korea to manufacture and market veterinary medical devices. Building on this platform, the company is expanding research into inflammatory diseases and regenerative medicine.
Leveraging experience in animal health products, SuPine Therapeutics Inc. aims to accelerate the development of human spinal cord injury treatments and expand its pipeline of novel drugs. Additionally, the company plans to establish a GMP-compliant R&D facility in collaboration with the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and U.S. accelerators, recruit local personnel, and promote FDA clinical trials.
