Korean pharmaceutical and biotech corporations will unveil next-generation anticancer research at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), to be held in San Diego from the 17th to the 22nd (local time). The American Association for Cancer Research is considered one of the world's three major cancer meetings along with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
The meeting draws more than 20,000 corporate officials and researchers each year to present early clinical results and more. Korean corporations can glean anticancer research trends and discuss technology licensing. This year, technologies related to the so-called dream anticancer therapy, CAR-T cell therapies, mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid), and bispecific antibody ADCs (antibody-drug conjugates) are expected to be unveiled.
◇"CAR-T" therapies that selectively kill only cancer cells… moving to conquer solid tumors
Research on CAR-T cell therapies will be unveiled at this meeting. This approach treats cancer by using T cells, immune cells in the patient's body. T cells circulate throughout the body and attack when they detect cancer cells. However, because cancer cells deploy decoy tactics so that T cells do not recognize them, there are times when T cells in the body fail to properly identify cancer cells.
CAR-T cell therapy extracts T cells from the patient, reengineers them to recognize cancer cells, and reinfuses them. In this way, T cells travel through the bloodstream, correctly find cancer cells, and eliminate them. However, CAR-T cells have been used for hematologic cancers such as leukemia and have not easily treated hard solid tumors. That is because CAR-T cells may fail to penetrate tumor masses or may become exhausted before they even reach the vicinity of solid tumors.
AbClon and Verismo Therapeutics, the U.S. subsidiary of HLB Innovation, will showcase CAR-T technologies at this meeting that overcome these limitations and treat solid tumors. AbClon will unveil its zCAR-T platform for solid tumors. Through a substance called a switch that binds to tumor antigens, it helps CAR-T cells home in on solid tumors.
An AbClon official said, "The switch is a substance one twenty-fifth the size of an antibody," adding, "By co-administering the substance called a switch, it guides T cells along the path so they can reach the vicinity of solid tumors."
Verismo Therapeutics will present interim phase 1 results for the CAR-T therapy SynKIR-110 targeting solid tumors. An HLB official said, "Conventional CAR-T therapies sometimes led to cell exhaustion due to excessive T-cell activation," adding, "We designed it to overcome these problems." Verismo Therapeutics will also present preclinical results for the CAR-T therapy SynKIR-310, which is effective against hematologic cancers.
◇mRNA therapies that induce cancer cell self-destruction, and radiopharmaceuticals to be unveiled
At the meeting, attention is focusing on mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) platforms and radiopharmaceuticals.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical will unveil nine preclinical studies, including anticancer drugs using an mRNA platform. mRNA is genetic material that carries information for protein synthesis. Hanmi Pharmaceutical's anticancer drug candidate p53 mRNA induces cancer cell self-destruction by expressing the p53 protein, a tumor-suppressor gene, inside cells. In addition, Hanmi Pharmaceutical will showcase targeted anticancer therapies aimed at cancer gene mutations.
SK Biopharmaceuticals will unveil preclinical research on the radiopharmaceutical SKL35501. Radiopharmaceuticals, when administered to a patient, irradiate only cancer cells to treat cancer. SK Biopharmaceuticals is developing radiopharmaceuticals as the next growth driver following its epilepsy treatment Cenobamate.
This radiopharmaceutical targets NTSR1, which is overexpressed in colorectal and pancreatic cancers. An SK Biopharmaceuticals official said, "We reached the clinical entry stage 18 months after in-licensing the pipeline (drug candidates)."
◇"Guided missiles" that hunt cancer cells… high-potency bispecific antibody ADCs draw attention
Research on bispecific antibody ADCs is also active. ADCs are a technology that treats cancer cells by attaching a drug (payload) to an antibody. Antibodies recognize and bind to antigens on the surface of cancer cells. Bispecific antibodies, which link two different antibodies, can provide better efficacy and higher safety than monospecific antibodies.
Among Korean corporations, Dong-A ST will unveil research on a bispecific antibody ADC candidate being co-developed with its subsidiary Aptis. The presentation will introduce ways to overcome resistance in solid tumors with bispecific antibody ADCs. A Dong-A ST official said, "We will also disclose ADCs that target urethral cancer and lung cancer."
ABL Bio will also present preclinical research related to bispecific antibody ADC candidates. ABL Bio holds global development rights and the clinical programs for the bispecific antibody ADC candidates ABL206 and ABL209 at its U.S. subsidiary, NeoC Bio. The company has received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the candidates and is pushing ahead with phase 1 trials.
LigaChem Biosciences is also developing an ADC candidate to treat multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer. Symptoms include bone pain, fractures, and anemia. A LigaChem Biosciences official said, "We are preparing an IND application to enter global clinical trials."