AbClon’s AM109 Project Selected for KDDF Program
AbClon announced on the 6th that its AM109
project has been selected for the third round of the 2023 National New Drug
Development Program, led by the Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF). AM109 is a
T cell engager therapy specifically targeting refractory prostate cancer by targeting
the PSMA and 4-1bb on tumor cells and T cells respectively, utilizing the
company's proprietary AffiMab platform technology.
Refractory (castration-resistant) prostate
cancer is the most severe stage of prostate cancer, where the tumor has
metastasized beyond the prostate to other parts of the body. According to the
National Cancer Information Center, the average survival time for patients with
this condition is only 2-3 years, and current treatment options remain limited
in both availability and efficacy. The results of an international clinical
trial reported in August showed that the combination of the immune checkpoint
inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and chemotherapy for metastatic
castration-resistant prostate cancer did not show significant improvement as
expected
AbClon utilizes its unique AffiMab
bispecific antibody platform, which leverages affibody that are 1/25 the size
of conventional antibodies to recruit T cells. This affibody is then linked to
an antibody that specifically targets prostate cancer cells, maximizing the
anti-cancer effect. AbClon is also developing AM105, an innovative bispecific
antibody therapy for colorectal cancer, using the same platform technology.
A company representative stated, "With
the support of the Korea Drug Development Fund, we will be able to accelerate
research on this new pipeline," adding, "We are committed to
developing bispecific antibody therapies that can significantly enhance
treatment efficacy and survival rates for prostate cancer patients."
