Active M&A for global cell and gene therapy

↑ Expectations for K-Bio

Chong Kun Dang, LG Chem, GC Cell, HK inno.N, related R&D

SK Pharmteco/Samsung Bio/Lotte Bio entered the CDMO field

OVIS BCMA CAR-T, Kyulosel

In the field of cell and gene therapy, which is considered a next-generation drug, an M&A worth 3.4 trillion won was completed.

 

Domestic biopharmaceutical companies are conducting R&D in the field of cell and gene therapy as a future food source.

 

CDMO companies are entering the CDMO business for cell and gene therapy through M&A and factory expansion.

 

◆ 3.4 trillion won worth of M&A According to the industry on the 4th, Sartorius, a German-based global biopharmaceutical company, announced on the 31st of last month (local time) that it would acquire French Polyplus, a producer of raw materials for cell and gene therapy, for 2.4 billion euros (approximately 3.4 trillion won).

 

Sartorius carried out this M&A to strengthen its capabilities in the field of cell culture medium portfolio and key material provision services related to cell gene therapy.

 

The M&A will be conducted through Sartorius Stedim Biotech, a Sartorius subsidiary in France.

 

The acquisition process is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year.

 

Expectations for the growth potential of the cell and gene therapy market are high.

 

According to pharmaceutical market research firm Evaluate Pharma, the global cell and gene therapy market grew at an average annual rate of 49.1% from $7.47 billion in 2021.

 

Yes, it is expected to grow to 55.59 billion dollars by 2026.

 

During the same period, it is expected to show higher growth compared to the average annual growth rate of 5.7% for chemically synthesized drugs and 5.2% for antibody drugs.

 

◆Domestic pharmaceuticals are also interested in the field of cell and gene therapy Domestic biopharmaceutical companies have selected the field of cell and gene therapy as one of their new growth engines and are conducting R&D.

 

Chong Kun Dang established 'Gen2C', a gene therapy research center, in the Omnibus Park of Seoul St.

 

Mary's Hospital last year.

 

It is a strategy to strengthen expertise in the field of gene therapy and establish itself as a leading company centered on Gen2C.

 

Centered on researchers in the field of gene therapy at Hyojong Research Institute, the company plans to develop rare and incurable treatments for undruggable targets, which have high unmet needs and have been difficult to develop with existing methods.

 

Chong Kun Dang also signed an MOU with CDMO, a cell gene therapy product, and ENCell, a next-generation stem cell therapy development company, for strategic investment and joint research on cell and gene therapy products.

 

It plans to accelerate joint R&D and production processes for advanced biopharmaceuticals.

 

Since last year, LG Chem has been concentrating its capabilities on advancing the establishment of an innovative cell therapy platform technology.

 

LR19023, a next-generation CAR-T cell therapy, is under development.

 

In the preclinical stage, the effect is confirmed through cancer model animal tests.

 

LG Chem plans to develop LR19023 as a solid cancer treatment.

 

HK inno.N paid attention to cell therapy products such as CAR-T and CAR-NK as future growth engines in 2020 and built a cell and gene therapy platform in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province.

 

Currently, four CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies are being developed with the Bio Research Center as the main focus.

 

To increase the success rate of treatment development and speed up market entry, technology for blood cancer and solid cancer treatment was transferred from global companies.

 

For the localization of the technology, it is also researching CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapy products on its own.

 

Earlier this year, GC Cell transferred the technology of 'AB-205', a drug candidate for T-cell lymphoma, to Artiva Biotherapeutics, a US affiliate.

 

This is an allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived NK cell therapy using CAR that targets CD5 expressed in T-cell lymphoma.

 

GC Cell will work with Artiva Biotherapeutics to lead a phase 1 clinical trial that meets domestic and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.

 

GC Cell and Artiva Biotherapeutics plan to jointly develop drugs by conducting phase 2 clinical trials in the Asian and North American markets, respectively.

 

CDMO companies such as SK Pharmteco, Samsung Biologics, and Lotte Biologics are accelerating their entry into the field of cell and gene therapy.

 

Based on its localization strategy in 2021, SK Pharmteco entered the CDMO business, mainly in the US and Europe.

 

By acquiring Yposkesi in France in 2021, it began targeting the cell and gene therapy CDMO field.

 

Last year, it became the second largest shareholder of CBM, an American cell and gene therapy CDMO company.

 

Samsung Biologics plans to start a business in the CDMO field of next-generation medicines, such as cell and gene therapy, through the establishment of the fifth plant.

 

Samsung BioLogics CEO John Lim said, "We will continue to expand production capacity by promoting the establishment of the 2nd Bio Campus in Songdo, Incheon" after the board of directors' resolution in March.

 

We plan to build facilities and research facilities to nurture next-generation drug technology.” Lotte Biologics entered the pharmaceutical CDMO field by acquiring BMS' Syracuse plant in the US in January.

 

The Syracuse plant plans to make additional investments to strengthen its capabilities, including new product orders and process development.

 

In addition to the antibody-drug CDMO, the facility is planned to be converted so that it can produce finished drugs (DP) and cell and gene therapies.