Celltrion said on the 29th that it signed a joint research agreement with domestic artificial intelligence (AI) new drug developer Portrai to search for new drug targets using spatial transcriptomics and AI technology.
Spatial transcriptomics is a technology that analyzes the activity of ribonucleic acid (RNA) at the cellular level and shows, like a map, where proteins are made in the human body. By doing so, it can precisely identify where cancer cells exist and where drugs should act, and is called a kind of "RNA navigation."
Founded in 2021, Portrai is focusing on developing cancer treatments based on this technology. In particular, by analyzing tissue samples from cancer patients and examining tumor cells together with the surrounding microenvironment, it can identify gene expression patterns unique to each type of cancer. This serves as key data for establishing patient-tailored treatment strategies and is a technology drawing attention in precision medicine. Based on this technology, the company was selected in August this year as a participant in the third cohort of the "Celltrion Open Innovation Program" corporations.
Under this agreement, Celltrion will use Portrai's spatial transcriptomics databases and its AI-based analysis platform "PortraiTARGET" to discover up to 10 new drug targets. The platform is a precision analysis platform that discovers and evaluates therapeutic targets in the early stages of drug development. It enables development of next-generation therapies such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), radiopharmaceuticals (RPT), and bispecific antibodies, and can precisely analyze a drug's efficacy, safety, and delivery pathways from basic research through clinical stages based on spatial transcriptomics, quantitative pathology, and pharmacokinetics.
Celltrion will secure exclusive development rights to these targets and will handle the entire process from discovering therapeutic candidates to clinical development. The deal is worth up to $87.75 million (125.9 billion won), and separate royalties will be paid if products are commercialized.
Celltrion plans to strengthen its pipeline of new drug candidates centered on cancer treatments through this collaboration. As patient groups become more segmented and previously known targets have limitations, the company plans to discover new targets with high commercialization potential through spatial transcriptomics-based analysis and develop differentiated new drugs.
A Celltrion official said, "Combining the two companies' technologies will further increase the chances of success in new drug development," and added, "We will pursue the development of innovative new drugs and secure future growth engines in various disease areas, including anticancer drugs."