Cha Biotech Introduces Technology for HER2-Targeted Antibody Therapy Santneer 'CTN001'

Cha Biotech announced on the 27th that it has signed a material introduction agreement for joint research with Santeur Biosciences, which is developing a new drug engager with a Twin Fc crystallizable fragment domain to enhance the anticancer effect of its NK cell therapy under development.

Under this agreement, Santeur transferred ‘CTN001,’ a human epithelial growth factor receptor (HER) 2-targeting antibody, to Cha Biotech. Cha Biotech plans to combine the transferred CTN001 with allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells collected from healthy donors to verify therapeutic effects in various cancer models, including breast and gastric cancers.

NK cells, which autonomously attack cancer cells or viruses in the body, are known to have enhanced therapeutic effects when combined with antibodies. If the combination therapy proves effective, Cha Biotech plans to proceed with clinical development targeting cancers with high unmet medical needs that currently lack treatments.

The target of this study, HER2, is a protein that promotes cell growth and is highly expressed in several solid tumors, including breast and gastric cancers, leading to cancer cell proliferation and differentiation. Among these, HER2-low breast cancer is a newly classified subtype accounting for more than 50% of all breast cancers. The antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) ‘Enhertu’ by Daiichi Sankyo-AstraZeneca (AZ) is currently the only approved treatment, indicating significant market potential.

CTN001 is being developed as an antibody therapy for HER2-low breast and gastric cancers that overcomes the efficacy limitations of existing HER2 antibody therapies. Based on its innovative antibody structure, it amplifies various anticancer immune responses, and when combined with Cha Biotech’s NK cell therapy, it is expected to significantly enhance the tumor-killing effect of NK cells.

Hyun-Jung Lee, CEO of Cha Biotech, stated, “We expect this study to show significant tumor suppression effects by combining Cha Biotech’s NK cell therapy with the CTN001 antibody to increase cancer cell apoptosis.” She added, “Cha Biotech is strengthening its global competitiveness by developing mass culture technology and NK cell therapies that maximize anticancer effects.”

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