Yuyu Pharma Opens UCLA Office to Boost U.S. Pet Industry Growth

Yuyu Pharma has officially opened a new office on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as part of its strategy to expand within the U.S. pet industry. This new establishment serves as a significant step for Yuyu’s subsidiaries, Yuyu Bio and Mervyn’s Petcare, enhancing their capabilities in the pet and animal health market.

Located at Magnify, the startup incubator within the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), this office will act as Yuyu Pharma’s North American base for pet-related ventures. The facility offers office space, meeting rooms, and access to a vibrant innovation ecosystem, allowing for closer collaboration with customers, partners, and various industry stakeholders.

Investment in Animal Health Sector

Yuyu Pharma recognizes the animal health and pet care market as a vital growth engine for the future. To support this initiative, the company is advancing its strategy through the Yuyu Venture Studio (YVS), an investment and venture-building platform that operates separately from the core pharmaceutical business. YVS focuses on incubating and investing in emerging companies that specialize in veterinary biologics, pet nutrition, and overall animal wellness.

Through YVS, Yuyu Pharma has successfully spun off two subsidiaries based at UCLA. Yuyu Bio is dedicated to developing biologics specifically for felines, targeting chronic and underserved health conditions. Meanwhile, Mervyn’s Petcare specializes in health supplements exclusively for cats, emphasizing science-backed wellness products.

In addition to their UCLA-based initiatives, Yuyu Venture Studio has made strategic investments across the animal health ecosystem. This includes partnerships with VETmAb Biosciences, focusing on canine biologics, and Dalan Animal Health, which develops shrimp vaccines for sustainable aquaculture. Another notable investment is in DOG PPL, a community and wellness platform centered around dog parks.

Leadership Insights

Speaking on the initiative, Robert Wonsang Yu, CEO of Yuyu Pharma, stated, “The animal health sector is emerging as a major global growth area, driven by advances in biopharmaceutical science and rising demand for high-quality companion animal care. Through Yuyu Venture Studio, we are building a diversified portfolio of animal health businesses while maintaining strategic independence from our core pharmaceutical operations.” He emphasized that establishing a presence at UCLA enables the company to accelerate innovation and scale globally.

Founded in 1941, Yuyu Pharma is a South Korea-based healthcare firm dedicated to pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and health supplements aimed at improving quality of life. As part of its global growth strategy, the company actively invests in early-stage and high-growth innovators across the fields of biotechnology, sustainability, and animal health through its Yuyu Venture Studio.