At the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR 2026), one of the world's three major cancer congresses, Korean biotechnology corporations unveiled research results in quick succession. AACR is the world's largest cancer research meeting, drawing more than 22,000 cancer researchers and pharmaceutical and biotech industry officials from over 140 countries. Along with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), it is considered one of the three major cancer congresses.
This year it was held from on the 17th (local time) to the 22nd at the San Diego Convention Center in California under the theme "Advancing Cancer Science to Save Lives Globally."
Korean corporations rolled out back-to-back strategies of "precise targeting" and "multi‑mechanism" to overcome the limits of existing treatments. AACR is held first among the three major cancer congresses each year and features many preclinical and early clinical presentations, making it a venue that indicates the potential for technology licensing and the direction of cancer treatment over the next 5 to 10 years.
◇ Voronoi, Rznomics post clinical results… HLB shows strength in precise targeting
Corporations that newly released clinical research data from actual patients drew particular attention. Among Korean corporations, Rznomics, which is developing RNA‑based therapeutic candidates, and Voronoi, which is developing next‑generation targeted therapies for lung cancer, are representative.
According to phase 1 results for VRN11, a lung cancer therapeutic candidate released by Voronoi, VRN11 recorded an objective response rate (ORR) of 100% at effective doses in a cohort of lung cancer patients who developed resistance after treatment with the third‑generation EGFR inhibitor Tagrisso (ingredient name Osimertinib). This means 100% of patients saw tumor size reduced beyond a set threshold after treatment. The disease control rate (DCR) was 96.8%, an indicator that includes the proportion of patients whose tumors shrank or no longer progressed.
Even at high doses, only limited occurrences of drug‑related severe adverse events were reported, confirming positive results in overall tolerability. However, given that this is an early clinical stage, further validation in a larger number of patients is needed, observers said.
RZ-001, an RNA‑based anticancer candidate under development by Rznomics, showed promise through interim clinical results in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The presentation was given by Kim Yun-jun, a professor of gastroenterology at Seoul National University Hospital, who conducted the clinical research.
RZ-001 is an anticancer drug that uses RNA to regulate the gene expression processes that cause cancer. Whereas existing treatments directly attack proteins or cancer cells, this acts at the genetic level. This is a new therapeutic approach that targets the root cause of cancer.
According to the company, when RZ-001 was combined with the immunotherapies atezolizumab and bevacizumab, the tumor response rate (ORR) was 38.5% (confirmed) and 46.2% (unconfirmed based on initial assessment). This indicates the proportion of patients whose tumor size decreased beyond a set threshold. If the response is maintained on repeat testing, it is finalized as "confirmed."
By mRECIST, which reflects changes in viable tumor tissue, the ORR was 61.5% and the complete response (CR) rate was 23%. A complete response means no cancer is visible on imaging, and it is distinguished from a cure because the possibility of recurrence remains. The company said these results "suggest a 'deep response' accompanied not only by tumor shrinkage but also by intratumoral necrosis."
Elevate Therapeutics, an HLB subsidiary, presented data demonstrating the selectivity of the FGFR2‑targeted anticancer drug "lirafugratinib." The drug is under U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review for a cholangiocarcinoma indication.
According to the presentation, lirafugratinib showed high selectivity for FGFR2 through kinome profiling, which analyzes activity changes across kinases, proteins that regulate intracellular signal transduction. This means inhibition of other FGFR family receptors is relatively low, a property interpreted as reducing the potential for off‑target adverse effects compared with pan‑FGFR inhibitors.
◇ New technologies targeting intractable cancers emerge… platform race even includes "early lock‑in"
Preclinical data on homegrown new drug candidates targeting intractable cancers with limited treatment options were also released one after another. The precise targets and novel mechanisms are drawing attention.
Onconic Therapeutics unveiled nonclinical data for the dual‑target anticancer candidate "Nesuparib" for the first time. With a mechanism that simultaneously inhibits c‑Myc and YAP, which drive cancer cell proliferation, preclinical studies showed up to 133 times greater growth‑inhibitory effects than existing treatments.
Curocell, in joint research with Seoul National University Hospital and Stanford University, presented preclinical results solving the "fratricide" problem long cited as a limitation of CAR-T Therapy. Using gene‑editing technology to remove both CD5 and TRAC, the team blocked intercellular mutual attack and suggested the potential to develop off‑the‑shelf CAR‑T.
Orum Therapeutics and Peptron each presented next‑generation anticancer platforms based on targeted protein degradation. Orum Therapeutics introduced an approach that removes target proteins via DAC (antibody–degrader conjugate), while Peptron outlined a strategy to enhance intracellular protein removal efficiency with its IEP platform. Both technologies were presented as alternatives that can supplement the limits of conventional antibody therapies.
Contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) corporation Samsung Biologics also took part in AACR for the first time. The company set up a promotional booth and highlighted its CRDMO capabilities spanning contract research (CRO), development (CDO) and manufacturing (CMO). The company is expanding from a manufacturing‑centered business into research and development, broadening its portfolio.
Representative initiatives include "Samsung Organoid," which reflects patient‑derived characteristics, and the bispecific antibody platform "S-DUAL®." By starting collaboration from the early stages and extending through to commercial manufacturing, the company aims to build a structure to secure clients in advance—an "early lock‑in" strategy.
CDMO corporation Lotte Biologics also disclosed research results for its Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) platform "SoluFlex Link." The technology suppresses ADC aggregation to maintain structural stability over time. In cell and animal studies, anticancer effects appeared at lower concentrations than existing options, and the company said pharmacokinetics (PK) improvement potential was also confirmed. Based on this, the company suggested expansion potential as a general‑purpose ADC platform not restricted to specific antibodies.