KPS Adds Anti-Cancer Drug Pipeline Targeting Cancer Stem Cells... "Simultaneous Clinical Trials in US and Korea"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] KPS has loaded its first pipeline for a global anticancer new drug candidate substance.

On the 14th, KPS's US local subsidiary Algok Bio announced that it signed a technology transfer contract for an antibody anticancer drug candidate substance targeting the expression of Cancer Stem Cell 'TM4SF4 (Ti-em-po-es-ef-po)' with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute.

According to the Atomic Energy Research Institute, TM4SF4 present on the surface of cancer stem cells is involved in the growth and metastasis of lung cancer. It is a substance that causes resistance to radiation therapy. To inhibit the effects of TM4SF4, the institute manufactured mouse monoclonal antibodies based on specific antigens of TM4SF4 that can be mass-produced, converted them into humanized antibodies, and succeeded in creating a 'TM4SF4 antibody anticancer drug candidate substance' without immune rejection.

The 'TM4SF4 antibody anticancer drug candidate substance' developed by the institute is a cancer stem cell-targeting antibody that finds and treats only cancer cells. At the same time, it was experimentally confirmed to function as a sensitizer that helps cancer cells respond well to radiation during radiation therapy.

This research and development was carried out centered on Dr. Inkyu Kim of the Atomic Energy Research Institute, supported by the Radiation Technology Development Project of the Ministry of Science and ICT. Research results related to TM4SF4 completed domestic and international patent applications and registrations in 2014 and 2020. The technology related to humanized antibody manufacturing was jointly patented earlier this year with Professor Chunje Ryu of Sejong University.

KPS plans to simultaneously conduct preclinical and clinical trials for the therapeutic candidate substance in Korea and the United States, and the Atomic Energy Research Institute will actively support the development of various technologies for obtaining drug approval.

CEO Sungchul Kim said, "Algok Bio, the global new drug development bridgehead of KPS, has virtually licensed in (technology transferred) its first anticancer new drug candidate substance," adding, "We will accelerate new drug development to increase cancer patients' survival rates by securing additional anticancer pipelines as well as early diagnosis and metastasis prediction." He continued, "By introducing the First-in-Class anti-TM4SF4 antibody drug technology developed by the Atomic Energy Research Institute, we will establish an antibody drug new drug development platform technology and strive to develop precision therapeutic new drugs that overcome the limitations of existing targeted anticancer drugs."

Park Wonseok, director of the Atomic Energy Research Institute, said, "This technology is the first technology transfer related to new drug development in the radiation technology field of the Atomic Energy Research Institute," and added, "We expect to succeed in developing Best-in-Class new drugs using the candidate substance."

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