Lee Beom-jin, a professor at Ajou University's College of Pharmacy, has been named the recipient of the 57th Handok Academic Award, jointly presented by Handok and the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea.
Established in 1970, the award honors researchers who have contributed to the advancement of pharmaceutical science in South Korea through outstanding research and academic activity over at least 15 years.
Lee has focused his work on drug delivery systems that improve bioavailability and on incrementally modified drugs. He established the original concept of "Fattigation," in which fatty acids are chemically bonded to therapeutic drugs, peptides or proteins to form nanoparticles, opening a new area of research in drug delivery.
His research has also produced results in improving the solubility of poorly soluble drugs, as well as in long-acting injectables, cancer-targeting nanoparticles and patient-friendly drug delivery systems. He has published related findings in international journals and transferred technologies for long-acting injectables and orally disintegrating tablets to companies, helping strengthen the competitiveness of South Korea's pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.
Lee has served as chairman of the Korea Association of Pharmacy Education and president of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations, and continues international work with organizations including the International Pharmaceutical Federation.
The award ceremony will be held on the 22nd at the Suwon Convention Center during the 2026 Fall International Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea. The recipient receives a Yakyeontap trophy — a tower-shaped award named after the yakyeon, a traditional Korean medicine-grinding mortar — and prize money of 20 million won.