Hyundai ADM Bio announced on the 21st that the anti-cancer drug candidate "Penitrium," developed in collaboration with its parent company HYUNDAI BIOSCIENCE, demonstrated the ability to overcome "pseudo-resistance" in preclinical trials.
"Pseudo-resistance" refers to the phenomenon in cancer treatment where the frequency of drug administration increases, leading to the fortification of the defensive barrier (extracellular matrix) surrounding the cancer tissue, thus preventing sufficient penetration of the anti-cancer drug into the tumor and reducing its therapeutic effect.
On the same day, Hyundai ADM Bio announced the results of patient-derived organoid tests for Penitrium at the Jeongdong 1928 Art Center in Seoul. Patient-derived organoids are three-dimensional cultures of a patient's cancer cells and surrounding tissues grown in the laboratory.
Penitrium, being developed by the company as an anti-cancer drug, is a candidate substance that enhances the absorption rate of "niclosamide," which is well-known as an anti-parasitic agent. The results tested on patient-derived organoids proved the therapeutic principle and effects of Penitrium for pancreatic cancer and also confirmed the possibility of combination therapy for difficult-to-treat solid tumors such as lung and breast cancers, the company stated.
Kim Soo-jeong, head of the Hyundai ADM research center, noted, "Pancreatic cancer is one of the types where the extracellular matrix surrounding the cancer cells is thick," stating that Penitrium is an optimal model to demonstrate the effect of overcoming pseudo-resistance. Hyundai ADM and HYUNDAI BIOSCIENCE announced that they will present a paper containing this information at the international cancer conference co-hosted by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) to be held in Boston, USA, in October.
Cho Won-dong, the designated CEO of Hyundai ADM, said, "Based on the non-clinical trial results announced today, we will accelerate the expansion into global clinical trials, including in the U.S. and Europe," adding, "For patients with terminal cancer, there are realistically few treatment options available, so combination strategies like Penitrium may provide new alternatives."
Cho is expected to be formally appointed at the shareholder meeting scheduled for the 31st. He has served as the Policy Coordination Officer at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, Director of Economic Policy, and Deputy Minister, and was appointed as the first chief economic officer of the Blue House under former President Park Geun-hye. He was indicted for allegedly forcing the retirement of Lee Mi-kyung, vice chairperson of CJ Group, from management and received a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.