The E&M "Luca AI Cell and DXNVX Sign Joint Research Agreement on Antiviral Platform"

The E&M announced on the 16th that its affiliate, Luca AI Cell (hereinafter ‘Luca’), has signed a joint research agreement with bio healthcare specialist Dx&Vx for next-generation antiviral platform technology. With the signing of this joint research agreement, the status of the preferred negotiation partner will be granted upon technology transfer contracts for future commercialization.

Luca’s universal peptide technology is an effective ‘Antiviral Activity’ therapeutic technology not only against COVID-19 and its variant viruses but also against various viruses such as ▲dengue fever ▲Zika ▲Marburg ▲Japanese encephalitis ▲rabies virus, and already holds dozens of test data on the destruction of fatal viruses. This technology is characterized by not harming the human body and physically destroying specific viruses by recognizing only the specific curvature (degree of bending) of the lipid-composed virus surface. In addition, it selectively attacks viruses with a diameter of 200 nanometers or less, so it does not affect normal cells.

According to this joint research agreement, Luca and Dx&Vx will jointly conduct research necessary for clinical entry, such as efficacy and toxicity evaluation of Luca’s universal peptide drugs, to enable rapid entry into the clinical stage, and Dx&Vx is granted the right to receive technology transfer preferentially for specific indications.

The company explained, “It can be applied not only to various variants of specific viruses but also as treatments for various viral infections such as coronavirus, Zika, dengue, and Marburg viruses,” adding, “It is a technology that can prepare for diseases caused by new viruses (Disease X) that may cause future pandemics.”

Seunghee Ahn, CEO of Luca, said, “With the joint research agreement with Dx&Vx, which has new drug development technology and commercialization capabilities, the timing for commercialization and global business of the therapeutic has been advanced,” and added, “By domestic pharmaceutical companies owning intellectual property rights for core antiviral technologies, we will be able to prepare for the next pandemic.”

Taking this agreement as an opportunity, Luca is accelerating the development of gene therapies based on not only virus therapeutics using peptides but also original technologies of artificial cell membranes (Lipid Bilayer) and drug delivery system (DDS) manufacturing technologies. In particular, the D-type hepatitis rapid diagnostic kit, developed for the first time in the world in collaboration with Mongolia’s Onom Foundation, is attracting attention for its excellent accuracy and convenience. This diagnostic kit, which has obtained domestic export approval, is currently undergoing product registration procedures with the Onom Foundation in Mongolia, where the D-type hepatitis carrier rate is high.

Moreover, Luca is expanding its business area beyond therapeutic development to the entire bio healthcare sector, continuing innovative achievements. It is diversifying its business into functional cosmetics and health functional foods applying artificial cell membrane technology, presenting a new paradigm in the bio healthcare industry.

A representative of The E&M said, “This contract is highly significant in that Luca’s R&D achievements have been recognized as high value-added technology within the bio industry,” and added, “We expect Luca to continuously pursue joint research with leading companies in various fields and commercialization including technology transfer by utilizing its core technologies.”

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