JW JoongWai, Zeppit Collaborate on Preclinical Studies Using Tropical Fish

JW Pharmaceutical announced on the 10th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Jepit, a specialized non-clinical testing institution using the tropical fish model Zebra Fish.

Park Chan-hee, CTO of JW Pharmaceutical (left), and Shin Jun-nyeong, CEO of Jepit, are taking a commemorative photo after signing the MOU. Photo by JW Pharmaceutical

Through this agreement, JW Pharmaceutical plans to utilize the Zebra Fish model for expanding indications of its own new drug candidates and for new innovative drug projects. Jepit provides disease-customized Zebra Fish models and drug screening platforms using gene editing technology.

The tropical fish Zebra Fish shares more than 80% genetic similarity with humans, making it a promising non-clinical translational research model that can replace mammalian experiments. It is already known that global big pharma companies extensively use the Zebra Fish model in the processes of drug target validation, efficacy, and safety verification.

Using Zebra Fish in non-clinical (animal) testing is expected to reduce experimental costs to about one-tenth compared to mammals. Since adult Zebra Fish are 3 to 4 cm in size, experiments can be conducted quickly with small amounts of drugs, helping to reduce costs and shorten research periods. Additionally, according to research papers, the result concordance rate compared to mammalian experiments is up to 91%, which is known to increase clinical success rates in Phase 2 trials by 21.1%.

JW Pharmaceutical plans to strengthen translational research to reduce the gap between non-clinical and clinical stages through open innovation with Jepit.

Shin Jun-nyeong, CEO of Jepit, said, “Recently, interest in Zebra Fish from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and regulatory agencies worldwide has been increasing. We are pleased to collaborate with JW Pharmaceutical and hope to contribute to JW Pharmaceutical’s new drug research through our research platform that can increase preclinical and clinical success rates.” Park Chan-hee, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of JW Pharmaceutical, also stated, “In a situation where research and development costs are increasing due to the expansion of our own new drug pipeline and ethical issues regarding animal testing continue to be raised, cooperation with Jepit will be a good opportunity to accelerate new drug development. We will actively utilize the Zebra Fish model going forward to improve the efficiency and productivity of new drug research.”

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