"Overcoming Kymriah's Limitations"... HLB and Verismo Target Solid Tumors with 'KIR-CAR'

Resolving Early T-Cell Exhaustion
Adopting the Mechanism of NK Cells

HLB is positioning the next-generation chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy platform “KIR-CAR” from its subsidiary Verismo Therapeutics as a key pillar in the future of anti-cancer modalities. The company aims to overcome the limitations of existing single-chain CAR-T therapies in treating solid tumors by adopting a multi-chain structure.

Ji Whan Lee, Executive Director of HLB Bio Group, is presenting at the 'HLB 2026 Global Bio Forum' press conference held on June 12 at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul in Jamsil, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jungyeon Park

On May 12, Ji Whan Lee, Executive Director of HLB Bio Group, introduced the competitive advantages of Verismo’s KIR-CAR platform during a press conference at the “HLB 2026 Global Bio Forum” held at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul in Jamsil, Songpa-gu, Seoul.

CAR-T therapy is an immuno-oncology treatment in which a patient’s T-cells are extracted, genetically engineered to recognize cancer cells, and then reinfused. Since the 2017 approval of Novartis’ Kymriah (ingredient: tisagenlecleucel), a total of seven CAR-T products have been approved worldwide. Five of these target CD19, a surface protein (antigen) on cancer cells, and two target BCMA.

The issue is that the market has effectively remained limited to blood cancers. Lee pointed out that the main reason existing CAR-T therapies have underperformed in solid tumors is the problem of “tonic signaling.” All currently approved products have a single-chain structure, in which proteins that activate T-cells are linked in a linear sequence. Because this is an artificial structure not found in nature, T-cells are subtly and continuously activated even without encountering cancer cells. As a result, by the time they actually face cancer cells, their function is depleted and their attack power is diminished.

According to HLB, KIR-CAR adopts the signal transduction system of natural killer (NK) cells. It features a multi-chain structure with separate regions for receiving signals outside the cell membrane and transmitting them inside the cell. By utilizing the natural “on-off switch” of NK cells, T-cells are only activated when they encounter an antigen. This design is said to combine the rapid response of NK cells with the persistence of T-cells. Lee explained, “If existing CAR-T therapies are like a car left idling in a parking lot, KIR-CAR is like a car that only starts when needed.”

Currently, Verismo is conducting two phase 1 clinical trials in the United States. SynKIR-110, which targets mesothelin—a protein highly expressed on the surface of solid tumor cells—is being tested in patients with advanced ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and cholangiocarcinoma. SynKIR-310, which targets CD19, the standard target in blood cancers, is intended for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Preclinical studies have shown that SynKIR-310 demonstrated higher anti-tumor efficacy and lower cytokine secretion compared to Kymriah and Yescarta.

Laura Johnson, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of Verismo, who also presented at the event, stated that “even in the low-dose cohorts, anti-tumor efficacy has been confirmed, and side effects such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) have been observed at very low levels.” She added, “Given that mesothelin-targeted CAR-T therapies have so far failed to show any response, we are cautiously optimistic.”

Verismo Therapeutics was founded directly by the CAR-T research group at the University of Pennsylvania. The company was co-founded by Professor Michael Milone, co-developer of Kymriah, and Professor Donald Siegel, an expert in antibody and cell therapy. Carl June, a symbolic figure in CAR-T development, serves as a clinical advisor. The intellectual property rights for the KIR-CAR platform were once owned by Novartis but later returned; Professor Milone subsequently established Verismo together with CEO Brian Kim based on this technology.

The relationship with HLB began in 2021. As funding opportunities in the U.S. dwindled, CEO Brian Kim visited Korea, and upon hearing the concept, Jin Yang-gon, Chairman of HLB, immediately visited the University of Pennsylvania campus and decided to make a seed investment. Following this, HLB incorporated Verismo as a subsidiary of HLB Innovation to ensure stable funding. Verismo currently operates out of an office on the University of Pennsylvania campus, employing about 30 people as it conducts two phase 1 clinical trials and continues follow-up R&D.

Lee emphasized, “Verismo is the company where Kymriah’s know-how has been most intensively transferred,” and added, “Because the KIR-CAR platform has a modular structure with independent antibody and signaling regions, expanding to multiple targets is also feasible.”

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