[Click eStock] "NaiVec, Growing Interest from Overseas Companies in Cell-Penetrating Delivery Platform"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Kiwoom Securities analyzed on the 26th that Naivek's cell-penetrating delivery platform, which can pass through the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane for drug delivery, is attracting interest from overseas companies. No investment opinion or target price was provided.

Naivek possesses the NIPEP-TPP platform, which enhances selectivity by incorporating a cancer stem cell-targeting domain into cell-penetrating peptides.

Huh Hyemin, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, stated, "Preclinical studies targeting KRAS G12C mutation based on the NIPEP-TPP platform are underway, and it is expected that within this year, it will be possible to confirm whether targeting in an actual lung cancer-inducing mouse model (orthotopic mouse model) shows anticancer effects." He added, "Oral KRAS G12C inhibitors are currently being competed for by Amgen, Pfizer, Mirati, and others, making it a target of high interest among multinational pharmaceutical companies." He continued, "If positive preclinical results are confirmed, there is likely to be high demand for combination therapies competing with single agents such as Amgen's AM510 (First-in-class Phase 1) and Pfizer and Mirati's MRTX849 (Phase 1)."

Huh also expects that the mechanism for crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is being elucidated, which could enable expansion of the BBB penetration platform. He explained, "Since October last year, there has been joint research and development with global big pharma related to the NIPEP-TPP platform, and in February, a material transfer agreement (MTA) was signed with a UK-based biotech company, indicating increasing interest from overseas companies in the platform, which is positive."

He explained that Naivek is undervalued compared to other cell-penetrating developers. Huh said, "Most cell-penetrating companies are unlisted, so there are few comparable companies, but among listed companies, PYC Therapeutics has a market capitalization of about 310 billion KRW (AUD 366 million) and its leading pipeline is in preclinical stage for retinitis pigmentosa. Naivek, in addition to its preclinical platform, is conducting Phase 1 trials for an osteoporosis treatment and preparing for Phase 1 trials in Australia for an inflammatory bowel disease treatment, having a larger number of pipelines and more advanced stages," emphasizing this point. He added, "If the BBB penetration mechanism is elucidated and the platform is expanded, peer companies could also expand into BBB penetration platform companies."

He concluded, "Since the second half of last year, interest from overseas companies in the platform has increased, and the fact that joint research and development and material transfer agreements (MTAs) are being signed is positive."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.