K-bio jumps into developing new drugs for pancreatic cancer

Developing various types of candidates, ADCs·targeted anti-cancer agents·new antibody drugs

Prestige Biopharma·NCC-Bio·LigaChem Bio have entered clinical trials

Korean pharmaceutical and biotech companies have jumped into the development of new drugs for pancreatic cancer, which is categorized as refractory cancer.

 

Prestige Biopharma, New Cancer Cure Bio (NCC-Bio), LigaChem Biosciences, and Aptamer Sciences are conducting clinical trials to challenge the field.

 

These companies plan to investigate the commercialization potential of their candidates through antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), targeted anti-cancer agents, and new antibody drugs.

 

New ADC drugs target TROP2 for treating pancreatic cancer

According to industry sources on August 29th, Aptamer Sciences applied for a patent for its 'Aptamer-Drug Conjugate (ApDC)' and commenced treatment development.

 

ApDC is a next-generation ADC new drug development platform with its proprietary branched linker-payload technology.

 

Pancreatic cancer is known to have the lowest survival rate among cancer disorders.

 

The five-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer is merely 15.9% from 2017 to 2021, according to the National Cancer Center.

 

The early detection rate of pancreatic cancer is less than 10% due to the location of the organ, and the cancer readily metastasizes to peripheral organs.

 

Until now, several domestic and global companies have jumped into developing new drugs for pancreatic cancer but mainly failed in clinical trials.

 

Aptamer Sciences and latecomer companies plan to develop new drugs for pancreatic cancer using their new drug candidates, such as ADC.

 

Aptamer Sciences derived 'AST-203' using the ApDC platform.

 

AST-203 is made by conjugating TROP2-targeting antibody with 'MMAE,' a microtubule disruption agent, with linker 'VC-PAB.' TROP2 is an intracellular calcium signal transducer that regulates cell proliferation and survival.

 

Although this protein is found in healthy cells, it is often overexpressed in cancer cells and is associated with drug resistance.

 

The only TROP2-targeting new drug available in the market is Gilead Sciences' ADC Trodelvy, which is approved for treating triple-negative breast cancer.

 

TROP2 is commonly found in breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

 

The clinical trials for latecomer agents are being conducted to target major solid cancers.

 

In pre-clinical trials, Aptamer Sciences has confirmed the potential of AST-203 in a tumor spheroid model (3D cell culture of spheroids).

 

According to the company, AST-203 showed a 6.7-fold higher tumor penetration rate than an existing therapy, Trodelvy.

 

Additionally, in a pancreatic cancer animal model, AST-203 demonstrated dose-dependent tumor growth suppressive effects and tumor regression, reducing tumor sizes in all experimental animal groups.

 

Aptamer Sciences aims to commence a clinical trial for AST-203 in two years.

 

LigaChem Biosciences (hereafter referred to as LigaChem Bio) is developing TROP2-targeting ADC LCB84.

 

Last year, LigaChem Bio successfully signed a deal with Janssen, a subsidiary of U.S.-based Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to license-out its LCB84.

 

LCB85 consists of LigaChem Bio's proprietary ConjuAll linker and four MMAE, a microtubule disruption agent.

 

ADC consists of a linker, payload (drug conjugate), and antibody.

 

The ConjuAll linker is known to overcome the issue of releasing cytotoxic drugs into the blood and attacking healthy cells.

 

In preclinical studies, LCB84 demonstrated effects in solid tumors not responding to topoisomerase enzymes-based TROP2 ADC payloads.

 

Major ADCs like Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) incorporate the technology of topoisomerase enzymes.

 

LigaChem Bio received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the U.S.

 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June, and the company is currently conducting Phase1/2 studies in the United States.

 

In clinical trials, LigaChem Bio plans to investigate the preventive efficacy of LCB84 monotherapy and the combination therapy of LCB84 plus immune checkpoint inhibitor.

 

Prestige Biopharma·NCC-Bio successfully enter clinical trials

In addition to ADCs, various new drug candidates are being investigated for potential treatment of pancreatic cancer.

 

Prestige Biopharma is developing a new antibody drug candidate, PBP1510.

 

PBP1510 works by neutralizing pancreatic adenocarcinoma upregulated factor (PAUF), a protein target for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

 

The PBP1510 Phase 1/2a trials are being conducted in Spain, the United States, Singapore, and Australia.

 

Through the trials, Prestige Biopharma plans to investigate the safety and tolerability of PBP1510 plus gemcitabine combination therapy.

 

Prestige Biopharma aims to expand PBP1510's indication to ovarian cancer and prostate cancer in addition to pancreatic cancer.

 

PAUF is known to be associated with ovarian cancer and prostate cancer.

 

NCC-Bio will commence the development of a new drug for treating pancreatic cancer using 'KN510713,' a targeted anti-cancer agent and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) inhibitor.

 

The company is conducting clinical trials after receiving approval for the KN510713 Phase 1 trial last year.

 

NCC-Bio, founded by Kim Soo Youl, who used to work at the National Cancer Center, is a biotech company specializing in developing new anti-cancer drugs.

 

KN510713 is being developed as an anti-cancer drug candidate that inhibits catabolism.

 

Its clinical trial is the first anti-cancer agent trial to target inhibiting fatty acid oxidation (FAO) metabolism in cancer.

 

KN510713 works by decreasing cancer cell growth by blocking the energy supply to tumor cells without affecting healthy ones.

 

NCC-Bio is studying the last cohort of the Phase 1 trial and plans to enter the Phase 2 trial next year.