Kim Yong-joo, CEO of LigaChem Biosciences, announced plans to secure a total of 20 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidates by 2027. In addition to the five currently under development, he plans to create 15 more.
On the 1st, CEO Kim noted during the online event 'LigaChem Biosciences Global R&D Day 2025' that "five ADC substances have entered clinical trials, and many of the ADC pipeline to be secured by 2027 are planned for transfer."
LigaChem Biosciences is a corporation specializing in ADC development, founded by Kim Yong-joo in 2006. ADC is a treatment technology that attaches drugs to antibodies that bind to cancer cells, accurately delivering the drugs to the target cells. It is referred to as a guided missile that solely targets cancer cells.
LigaChem developed the 'ConjuALL' technology that precisely attaches drugs to specific sites on antibodies, and has signed a total of 14 technology transfer agreements with companies such as Johnson & Johnson's subsidiary Janssen and Ono Pharmaceutical in Japan.
The company also disclosed the current status of its clinical trials during the event. LCB84 has completed Phase 1 trials for solid cancer patients, including those with triple-negative breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, and is expected to announce results within this year.
LCB14, which has been transferred to UK-based Iksuda Therapeutics, confirmed its efficacy in initial clinical trials targeting breast cancer, ovarian cancer, gallbladder cancer, and esophageal cancer. It is preparing to enter Phase 2 trials in patients who received the ADC cancer drug 'Enhertu' (ingredient name trastuzumab deruxtecan) but relapsed.
LNCB74, which is being co-developed with NextCure, has received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and CS5001, currently developed with ABL Bio in Korea, is undergoing global Phase 1b trials. Chinese partner CStone is promoting the global technology transfer of this substance.
The company introduced four new antibody substances from external sources only in the first half of this year. In February, it received immune-oncology substances from DaAn Biologics, and in May, it transferred materials from Y-Biologics. It also acquired two antibodies for treating solid tumors such as lung cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, and pancreatic cancer from Novavax Biotherapeutics in the U.S.
The company is also developing 'Immunomodulatory Antibody Conjugates (AIC)', which incorporate drugs that activate immunity instead of traditional cytotoxic drugs into ADCs. This technology aims to reactivate the suppressed immune environment around tumors, increasing anti-cancer effects.
LigaChem Biosciences stated that it possesses differentiated competitiveness capable of overcoming the limitations of existing ADCs. Developing ADCs requires antibodies that locate cancer cells, payloads (drugs), and linkers that connect the two.
Chae Je-uk, the global strategy chief at LigaChem Biosciences, said, "Chinese corporations often combine existing linkers and payloads with antibodies, failing to overcome the limitations of existing drugs," adding that "LigaChem has secured technologies that maintain effects similar to existing cancer therapies while reducing toxicity to replace treatments limited by side effects."