Jin Yang-gon is not waiting for the data. The HLB Group chair has moved fast, snapping up more shares in the company’s biotech affiliates just as crucial clinical trial results draw closer. The stakes are high. Jin is putting more of his own money—and his private company’s—on the line.
Epoche, Jin’s private investment firm, led the charge. In late September and early October, Epoche bought large blocks of HLB Innovation and HLB Therapeutics shares. Jin owns 99% of Epoche. Over four trading days from September 23 to October 1, Epoche picked up 218,718 shares of HLB Innovation. Its stake jumped from 75,694 to 294,412 shares. The total spent: 3.574 billion won. At the same time, Epoche bought 130,584 shares of HLB Therapeutics in three sessions. Its holdings there rose from 41,688 to 172,272 shares. The cost was about 291 million won. Multiple independent financial reports confirmed these numbers on October 2.
HLB Therapeutics has completed patient enrollment for its global phase 3 SEER-2 trial of RGN-259, with final data processing and statistical analysis now underway.
Strategic buying as clinical milestones approach
There’s a clear reason for the buying spree. Both HLB Innovation and HLB Therapeutics are about to release major clinical data. HLB Therapeutics has finished all steps for its global phase 3 SEER-2 trial of RGN-259 for neurotrophic keratitis. Topline results are expected in mid-November, according to an official HLB Group announcement. Meanwhile, Verismo Therapeutics, the U.S. arm of HLB Innovation, is pushing forward with two CAR-T therapies: SynKIR-110 for solid tumors and SynKIR-310 for blood cancers. Interim phase 1 results for SynKIR-310 in relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma are set for presentation at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in December 2026, as reported by Newsis.
Jin’s buying is not just through Epoche. This year, he has personally bought about 1.22 million shares in 62 separate deals across HLB Group affiliates. These include HLB Innovation, HLB Panagene, HLB Therapeutics, HLB Genex, HLB bioStep, and HLB Pep. The latest moves show a shift. Now, his private company is buying alongside his personal purchases.
Corporate and news sources on October 2 described Jin Yang-gon's purchases as a strategic bet on imminent clinical catalysts for HLB Group, with the company itself publicly linking the increased stakes to confidence in upcoming readouts for RGN-259 and SynKIR-310.
Confidence in pipeline and long-term growth
HLB Group says these moves show Jin’s belief in the company’s new drug programs and the future of its pipeline. An HLB Group official said Jin has steadily raised his stakes in affiliates this year. Now, through Epoche, he has tightened his grip on the most important subsidiaries.
Jin Yang-gon is making a clear statement. He is buying big—both personally and through Epoche. The message is simple. He believes in HLB’s upcoming clinical milestones. As the group gets ready to share critical trial results, Jin is putting real money behind the science. For investors and industry watchers, it’s rare to see this level of insider commitment. The data could change everything.
