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154

AbClon initiates overseas commercialization of advanced CAR-…

AbClon, a leading South Korean biotech company, has announced the first official step into the overseas market with its innovative CAR-T cell therapy, AT101.   On 4th April, the company revealed that it had finalized a license agreement with TCT Health Technology (TCT), a Turkish company, in Istanbul on March 28th (local time).   This agreement marks AbClon's entry into the Turkish hematologic cancer treatment market and lays the foundation for expanding its presence in Europe and the Middle East.   The signing ceremony was attended by key figures from AbClon, TCT, and a range of Turkish health and medical industry organizations. Global life science company, Cytiva also participated as a partner to TCT. The Turkish Ministry of Health and Health Institute are committed to their full support for the clinical trials and rapid market entry of AT101. Cytiva will be responsible for the manufacturing process, aiming to enable Turkish patients to receive treatment with locally manufactured AT101 as soon as possible.   TCT will bear all commercialization costs, including clinical trials and production for AT101 in Turkey. AbClon will receive an upfront payment and royalties based on net sales.   AT101 is a CD-19 CAR-T cell therapy developed using AbClon's proprietary NEST technology platform. It features a differentiated antibody (1218) that has demonstrated high efficacy and safety, positioning it as a strong competitor in the global market. Currently, AT101 is undergoing Phase 2 clinical trials in South Korea, with plans to apply for conditional accelerated approval in the first half of this year. The Phase 1 trials showed remarkable treatment responses in over 90% of patients, garnering attention through presentations at international conferences and publications in prestigious journals.   In Turkey, approximately 10,000 patients die from hematologic cancers annually, indicating a substantial patient population that could benefit from AT101. Turkey's strategic location as a medical hub connecting Europe and the Middle East, along with the increasing number of patients from Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE seeking medical services, is expected to positively impact AT101's adoption in the region. AbClon plans to establish CAR-T treatment centers in major Turkish hospitals and provide medical staff support to maximize patient treatment outcomes.   An AbClon representative stated, "We will work closely with the TCT to ensure the swift approval and commercialization of AT101. This collaboration is a significant first step in demonstrating AbClon's technology and competitiveness in the global CAR-T market." The agreement is expected to provide innovative treatment options for hematologic cancer patients in Turkey and the Middle East. AbClon will continue to pursue overseas market expansion through technology transfer agreements with global pharmaceutical companies and direct market entry strategies. 

2025-03-04 289
153

AbClon, Develops mRMab Antibody Discovery Platform

AbClon Inc. announced that it has developed and launched ‘mRMab’, a differentiated antibody therapy platform that integrates messenger RNA (mRNA) technology with existing antibody discovery techniques.   RNA technology has emerged as a new paradigm in the medical field and has played a key role in the COVID-19 vaccine that has saved millions of lives worldwide. The core principle of this technology is to design mRNA corresponding to a specific disease-related protein and induce an immune response in animals. When the disease protein is naturally produced in the body, the immune system recognizes it and produces antibodies specific to that protein.   Traditional antibody development methods rely on externally synthesized proteins, which often differ in structure from those naturally produced in the body. This discrepancy makes it difficult to develop antibodies for intractable diseases, often leading to failure. Additionally, the preparation of synthetic proteins requires significant time and cost.   In contrast, the mRMab approach enables the in vivo production of disease-related proteins, allowing complex protein structures to form naturally. According to AbClon, this advancement facilitates the effective development of therapeutic antibodies for proteins associated with intractable diseases that were previously difficult to target using conventional methods.   According to Global Market Insights, the global monoclonal antibody therapeutics market, a leading segment of antibody-based therapies, was valued at over USD 186.6 billion in 2022. It is expected to reach over USD 609 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5%. Monoclonal antibody therapeutics are continuously evolving into bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies.   AbClon plans to operate a differentiated new drug platform to provide new drug development and antibody development services to pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, and hospitals worldwide.   An AbClon representative stated, " The mRMab platform is expected to bring groundbreaking innovation to therapeutic antibody development, surpassing existing methods. It will play a crucial role in developing antibody therapies for intractable diseases like cancer and new infectious diseases."   

2024-12-24 218
152

The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Presidential Commendati…

Antibody therapy company AbClon announced on the 29th that its CEO Lee Jong-Seo received the Presidential Commendation at the '2024 Government Awards for Healthcare Technology Advancement'.   The Government Awards for Healthcare Technology Advancement, hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of healthcare technology in Korea every year. Dr. Lee received the award for his contribution to widely publicizing the excellence of Korean pharmaceuticalㄴ and biotechnology in the global new drug market.   Dr. Lee developed over 80,000 research antibodies through the 'Human Protein Atlas Project', a joint research project of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, by establishing advanced antibody development technology. In particular, his technology transfer achievements include the antibody 'AC101 (Chinese name: HLX22)' for the first-line gastric cancer treatment and an antibody that specifically binds to anti-HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2) that is highly expressed in gastric cancer cells.   In addition, AbClon is currently developing a blood cancer CAR-T (chimeric antigen-T) cell therapy equipped with its proprietary antibody and bi-specific antibodies for solid cancers based on the AffiMab platform. These technological advances have been acknowledged through the filing of over 80 domestic and international patents applications.   Dr. Lee said, “About 80% of AbClon’s employees are researchers, and the company is deeply committed to investing in technological advancements,” and “We aim to grow into an innovative pharmaceutical company that can maximize the treatment effect and ultimately achieves a complete cure for patients with intractable cancers.” End 

2024-11-29 241
151

Henlius Begins First Patient Dosing in Global Phase 3 Trial

On the 26th, AbClon announced that the first patient has been dosed in the phase 3 international multi-center clinical trial (HLX22-GC-301) for AC101 (Henlius’ codename HLX22). The HLX22-GC-301 trial, which evaluates the combination of trastuzumab and chemotherapy, has received Phase 3 clinical trial approvals in China, the United States, and Japan. HLX22 is a candidate for global first-line treatment for HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)-positive advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer, based on AC101, which was licensed to Henlius Biotech (Henlius) in 2016. To date, no dual HER2 blockade therapy for HER2-positive gastric cancer has received global commercialization approval. A company representative stated, "HER2-positive gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer is a major global health issue, with approximately one million new cases reported annually." They further noted, "This disease is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to poor prognosis, with a five-year survival rate of only 6%." Patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer generally have worse prognoses than those with HER2-negative disease. Although trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy is the current standard treatment, its efficacy and outcomes require further improvement. HLX22 is an antibody designed to bind to HER2 proteins alongside trastuzumab, promoting HER2 internalization and degradation, thereby enhancing anti-tumor activity. Preclinical and Phase 1 trial results have demonstrated that the combination of HLX22 and trastuzumab produces a synergistic effect, leading to tumor suppression, cancer cell apoptosis, and a favorable safety profile. The ongoing clinical trial is evaluating progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) as its primary efficacy endpoints, comparing HLX22 to existing treatment regimens.  Meanwhile, on the 17th, AbClon was recognized as a "Global Outstanding Partner" at the 30th anniversary ceremony of China’s Fosun Pharma Group, held in Shanghai, highlighting 

2024-11-26 200
150

AbClon Enters into Clinical Trial Agreement with Korea Drug …

AbClon announced on the 17th that it has signed a clinical trial agreement with the Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF) for a Phase 2 trial of its novel CD19 epitope-targeting CAR-T therapy, AT101.   This Phase 2 trial is part of the National New Drug Development Project and will receive funding for two years. The primary objective is to evaluate the objective response rate, and secondary objectives include assessing tolerability, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic properties.   AT101 is a CAR-T therapy targeting CD19 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It has demonstrated promising results in a previous Phase 1 trial, also supported by the KDDF, showing a high initial response rate and encouraging follow-up data.   Currently, the Phase 2 trial is being conducted at seven hospitals across South Korea. AbClon claims that AT101 has shown superior efficacy and durability compared to existing global CAR-T therapies, with higher initial response rates and encouraging long-term follow-up data. The unique mechanism of action of AT101, incorporating the h1218 antibody in its CAR-T construct, has been published in the prestigious journal Molecular Cancer.   "We are committed to maximizing the potential of AT101 as a globally competitive new drug by also securing treatment results for patients who are refractory to or relapse after existing CAR-T therapies," said a representative from AbClon. "Based on the clinical trial results, we will strive for expedited approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety."   Meanwhile, in the Phase 1 trial, AT101 achieved a complete remission (CR) in all patients who received medium and high doses. The low-dose cohort consisted of six participants, accounting for half of the overall responses. Despite including patients who received a minimal dose—approximately 4% of the planned Phase 2 dosage—AT101 demonstrated outstanding outcomes, with an overall survival (OS) rate of 82.5% and a progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 66.7%.  

2024-06-17 227
149

Groundbreaking CD30 CAR-T Therapy Research Published in Natu…

AbClon announced on June 5, 2024, that the research findings of a novel immunoregulatory CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy, conducted with the research team at the University of Pennsylvania, have been published in the June issue of Nature Immunology (Impact Factor: 30.5), a globally renowned journal in the field of immunology. The research team conducted single-cell RNA-sequencing and identified the dominant interactions of immunosuppressive cellular compartments and effector T cells in a patient with malignant tumor Hodgkin's lymphoma. Through this study, they discovered that cancer cells evade immune cell therapy by establishing a sophisticated immune escape mechanism through the binding of BTLA (B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator) on healthy immune cells and HVEM (Herpesvirus entry mediator) on cancer cells. Their findings demonstrated that the BTLA-HVEM axis functions as a critical immune checkpoint in CAR-T therapy for both hematologic and solid tumors. To verify the anti-cancer efficacy in Hodgkin's lymphoma, the team developed a CAR-T therapy targeting CD30, a well-known marker for activated T cells. However, conventional anti-CD30 antibody-based therapies have been associated with fratricide, a phenomenon where T cells attack and kill each other due to self-recognition. To address this, the research team identified and engineered a CD30-targeting antibody that does not induce fratricide, enabling the development of a more effective CAR-T therapy. Based on these findings, they further engineered a BTLA knockout CD30 CAR-T therapy using gene-editing technology, thereby overcoming the immune escape mechanism of cancer cells and enhancing therapeutic efficacy compared to conventional CAR-T therapies. An AbClon representative stated, "We jointly filed a US patent with the University of Pennsylvania last year to secure intellectual property rights and are currently in proceeding with an international patent application (PCT). Moving forward, we will expand our collaborative research and development with the University of Pennsylvania for CD30 CAR-T therapy while strengthening discussions on commercialization, including potential technology transfer."  

2024-06-05 221
148

Henlius’ Global Phase 3 Trial Approved by FDA

On the 8th, AbClon announced that China’s Henlius Biotech (Henlius) has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its Phase 3 clinical trial of HLX22. HLX22 is based on AC101, which AbClon licensed to Henlius in 2016. It is being developed as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive locally advanced and metastatic gastric cancer and is currently undergoing a Phase 2 clinical trial in combination with Herceptin and chemotherapy. The Phase 2 trial is expected to be completed this year. According to Henlius, this therapy can target areas that immune checkpoint inhibitors fail to reach. HLX22 has demonstrated more than three times the efficacy of standard therapy in terms of objective response rate (ORR), a key indicator of treatment effectiveness. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) for HLX22 was confirmed to be at least 15.1 months, significantly outperforming competing treatments. In comparison, the current standard therapy has an mPFS of 6.7 months, while the combination therapy with Keytruda achieves 10.8 months. Additionally, the median duration of response (mDOR) for the HLX22 regimen was recorded at a minimum of 12.4 months, compared to 6.9 months for standard therapy and 11.2 months for the Keytruda combination. With its differentiation from global treatments, HLX22 has demonstrated the potential to become a First & Best-in-Class therapy. An AbClon representative stated, “If the results of AC101’s Phase 2 clinical trial are validated, this will bring great hope to gastric cancer patients as a global first-line treatment for HER2-positive gastric cancer.” Meanwhile, on January 22, SangSangIn Investment & Securities Co.,Ltd. reported that AbClon’s AT101 pipeline is expected to bring global licensing opportunities upon successful clinical results. AbClon plans to present follow-up data from its AT101 Phase 1 clinical trial at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in June. 

2024-05-08 184
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