HK Innoen Unveils Two Anticancer Drug Pipelines at AACR

by Jeong Donghoon

Published 29 Apr.2025 09:18(KST)

An HK Innoen researcher is attending AACR and presenting a poster. Photo by HK Innoen

Pharmaceutical and biotech company HK Innoen announced on April 29 that it attended the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2025, held in Chicago, USA from April 25 to 30 (local time), and unveiled research results on two anticancer drug candidates.

The presentations covered research on HPK1 inhibitor (IN-122517), a next-generation immuno-oncology drug, and EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) mutation-selective degrader (IN-207039·SC2073), a targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. Among these, the EGFR degrader is being co-developed by HK Innoen and Dong-A ST.

The next-generation oral immuno-oncology candidate 'IN-122517' is an HPK1 (hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1) inhibitor that activates the immune system, including T cells, to induce anticancer effects.

At this conference, HK Innoen reported that in syngeneic models of colorectal cancer, IN-122517 demonstrated higher anticancer efficacy compared to anti-PD-1 antibody monotherapy. When administered in combination, it achieved complete tumor remission, and sustained immune memory responses were observed even after discontinuation of treatment. Currently, IN-122517 is under development with the goal of submitting an investigational new drug (IND) application next year.

HK Innoen also disclosed research results for the EGFR degrader 'IN-207039 (SC2073)', which is being co-developed with Dong-A ST as a targeted anticancer agent for non-small cell lung cancer.

IN-207039 (SC2073) employs a differentiated mechanism that selectively degrades only mutant EGFR proteins without degrading normal EGFR. In mouse models with EGFR mutations that are resistant to existing non-small cell lung cancer treatments (ingredient: Osimertinib), it demonstrated strong tumor growth inhibition. The two companies have currently identified a lead compound and are aiming to select a preclinical candidate by 2026.

Kim Bongtae, Head of New Drug Research at HK Innoen, stated, "We are building a diverse pipeline of innovative new drugs not only through in-house development but also through joint development, and we plan to expand opportunities for collaboration with global pharmaceutical companies and research institutions through this AACR presentation."