Oscotec said on the 16th that it will participate in Bio International Convention (BIO USA) 2026, the world's largest biotech event, to be held in San Diego, the United States, on the 22nd to 25th (local time).
At this event, the company plans to push for expanded global licensing and partnerships by highlighting a next-generation anticancer drug candidate aimed at overcoming resistance to cancer therapies and a kidney fibrosis treatment development project.
The core pipeline anticancer drug against resistance (ACART) is a candidate that suppresses the formation of drug resistance in cancer cells to prevent relapse. With high potential for combination with existing targeted therapies, it is expected to broaden its applicability to various solid tumors, including lung, breast, prostate, stomach, and head and neck cancers.
Oscotec is currently conducting a phase 1 clinical trial of its resistance-targeting anticancer candidate OCT-598. OCT-598 received investigational new drug (IND) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May last year and from the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety in November the same year, and the first patient dosing began in Korea in December last year.
The kidney fibrosis inhibitor candidate OCT-648 will also be introduced as a key partnering asset. OCT-648 completed proof of concept (PoC) in preclinical animal models, confirming consistent antifibrotic effects along with dose-dependent reductions in fibrosis markers.
This candidate works by inhibiting the signaling regulator NUAK1 to indirectly modulate signaling of the key transcriptional control pathway in kidney fibrosis (YAP/TAZ). It is regarded as a differentiated approach that targets fibrosis itself, a common pathological mechanism of chronic kidney disease.
Oscotec recently secured three global licensing deals, including a technology transfer agreement for the autoimmune disease treatment candidate Cevidoplenib. Going forward, the company plans to enhance competitiveness in research and development (R&D) by strengthening AI-based drug discovery capabilities, advancing its research platforms, building an integrated management system for research data, and expanding global open innovation.
Earlier, on the 1st, Oscotec signed a technology transfer agreement for Cevidoplenib with Agios Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. rare disease treatment company. Under the deal, Agios secured exclusive rights for clinical development and global commercialization of Cevidoplenib, while Oscotec became eligible to receive up to $665 million (about 1 trillion won), including upfront payment and milestones for development, approval, and commercialization.
Kwak Young-shin, head of research at Oscotec, who will attend this year's BIO USA, said, "With the signing of the Cevidoplenib technology transfer agreement, Oscotec has accumulated three global licensing achievements," and added, "Through this event, we will promote our follow-up pipeline and research and development capabilities in the global market and seek new collaboration opportunities."