HLB Group Holds 3rd HLB Forum... Presents Blueprint for 'Post-Rivoceranib' Era

On May 22, HLB Group held the 'HLB Forum,' an event where its affiliates gathered in one place to share the group's future strategies.

Now in its third year, the HLB Forum has evolved from a research and development-focused bio forum to a strategic forum. Under the theme 'Leap Forward in 2025, Take Off in 2030: Envisioning HLB's Future,' the forum shared updates on the development of the group's strategic pipeline. The event also highlighted key business plans for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment aimed at 2030, as well as open innovation investment strategies.

In his welcoming remarks, Jin Yang-gon, Chairman of HLB Group, stated, "If you look at any single point in time, it may seem full of failures and setbacks, but over the long term, we have continued to grow." He added, "Just as HLB, which started as a small ship component company, is now on the verge of launching a global new drug as a bio group, we will continue to create a bigger and brighter future with the spirit of 'getting things done no matter what.'

The first lecture focused on the development and global approval process of the group's core pipeline, the 'Rivoceranib-Camrelizumab combination therapy' for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Jung Se-ho, CEO of Elevar Therapeutics, explained the major results and significance of the global Phase 3 clinical trial for the new liver cancer drug, as well as the brand strategy.

At the end of the lecture, Jung introduced the rationale and strategic significance of bringing in 'Rylapugratinib (RLY-4008),' a treatment for cholangiocarcinoma, as the next pipeline following Rivoceranib.

Jung stated, "Rylapugratinib is a highly selective oral therapy targeting FGFR2 fusion, mutation, and amplification," and added, "We believe this pipeline has the potential to be a first-in-class global innovative drug for solid tumors with limited treatment options, including cholangiocarcinoma."

Next, Richard Kim, a professor at the Moffitt Cancer Center in the United States who participated in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of Rylapugratinib, discussed the current trend in cholangiocarcinoma treatment, where immunotherapy combinations are used as first-line therapy, and presented strategies for second-line targeted therapies for patients with FGFR2 mutations.

Professor Kim said, "Rylapugratinib is the first highly selective irreversible inhibitor that acts only on FGFR2. Compared to existing pan-FGFR inhibitors, it minimizes side effects and also shows activity against resistance mutations." He continued, "In patients with FGFR2 fusion cholangiocarcinoma who have not previously received FGFR inhibitor therapy, it achieved an objective response rate (ORR) of up to 88.2%, demonstrating its potential as a next-generation FGFR2 targeted therapy."

The forum also introduced the technological competitiveness and strategic direction of HLB Genex, HLB Neurotov, and HLB Pep, which are core affiliates expected to drive HLB Group's future growth.

Kim Doyeon, CEO of HLB Genex, emphasized that the company possesses platform technology that enables the rapid development and cost-effective mass production of industrial specialty enzymes such as catalase and lactase. He stated that the company has proven its technological capabilities by supplying to leading semiconductor and dairy companies worldwide. Along with stable sales growth of major products, the company is expanding its portfolio to include cosmetics, health functional foods, and diagnostic enzymes, and is pursuing a sustainable growth strategy by strengthening B2C (business-to-consumer) operations through technological collaboration with other group affiliates.

Next, Kim Daesu, CEO of HLB Neurotov, explained the competitiveness of the company's core pipeline: 'NT-1' for the treatment of dystonia and 'NT-3' for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Kim stated, "With NT-1, we are introducing a new treatment mechanism in the field of dystonia, where existing therapies are scarce, and are targeting the rare neurological disease market, which has significant unmet needs." He added, "NT-3 is an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy that aims to both improve symptoms and prevent cell death in Parkinson's disease. It is considered an innovative new drug candidate that could be effective even for mid- to late-stage patients."

Shim Kyungjae, CEO of HLB Pep, introduced the company as having secured competitiveness in various fields, including API, CDMO, and cosmetics, based on a library of over 5,000 peptides and unique synthesis technology. He also presented the company's strategy to lead the peptide-based healthcare market by developing new drug pipelines for metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, as well as ulcerative colitis, securing global cGMP certification, and developing high-value-added new drugs.

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