• Advancing Clinical Development and Commercialization of ADC Drug Candidate Discovered by AIMEDBIO
• Accelerating Partnership for Development of Rare and Intractable Disease Treatments and Next-Generation Drug Discovery

SK plasma, a leading blood products company, is broadening the scope of its operations to include development of next-generation targeted cancer therapies.

SK plasma (CEO Kim Seung-joo) announced on June 9 that it has signed a joint development and licensing agreement with AIMEDBIO (CEO Her Nam-gu), a company specializing in Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADC), to co-develop ADC-based cancer therapeutics.

This marks the first time SK plasma, which has been working to expand its business into treatments for rare and intractable diseases, is entering the development of ADC-based cancer therapeutics.

Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop an ADC cancer therapeutic candidate targeting ROR1, a protein expressed in various types of cancer. The partnership calls for AIMEDBIO to contribute its drug candidate derived from the research stage, including basic research and candidate discovery. SK plasma will then take the lead in development activities for clinical trials and commercialization. ROR1 is an antigen that is overexpressed in various solid tumors and hematologic cancers. 

An Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) is a next-generation targeted cancer therapy that combines a monoclonal antibody with a potent cytotoxic drug to attack cancer cells precisely.

Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which can damage normal cells, ADCs selectively bind to specific antigens on the surface of cancer cells and deliver the cytotoxic drug directly into the cell, ultimately destroying the tumor. ADCs are considered an innovative therapy that offers high anticancer efficacy while minimizing side effects on normal cells.

According to Global Data, a global market research firm, the global ADC market is projected to grow from approximately USD 14 billion (KRW 18.9 trillion) in 2023 to USD 112 billion (KRW 151.2 trillion) by 2030.

AIMEDBIO has established its technological competitiveness in the field of ADC-based cancer therapeutics through extensive research achievements and global technology transfer deals.

Her Nam-gu, CEO of AIMEDBIO, stated, “As an R&D focused company, collaboration with a partner that has strong clinical and regulatory capabilities is essential for the commercialization of new drug candidates. SK plasma has a deep understanding of biopharmaceuticals and brings extensive experience and expertise from its domestic and global clinical development and business operations. This partnership is expected to enhance the potential for successful follow-up clinical trials and global commercialization of our new ADC drug.”

SK plasma aims to gradually expand its portfolio of biopharmaceuticals, including ADC cancer therapeutics, for the treatment of rare and intractable diseases.

In 2021, SK plasma made a strategic investment in CUROCELL, a company developing CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapies, an immune cell-based cancer treatment. CUROCELL recently completed Phase 2 clinical trials of its next-generation CAR-T therapy, RIMQARTO (Anbal-cel), and has submitted a marketing authorization application in Korea. The therapy is currently undergoing drug reimbursement assessment.

Kim Seung-joo, CEO of SK plasma, stated, “Joint development with a partner like AIMEDBIO, which has demonstrated research expertise and technological potential, carries significant strategic value in expanding our biopharmaceutical portfolio, including ADCs. We will actively seek to expand collaborations with companies that possess innovative technologies capable of improving treatment accessibility in the field of rare and intractable diseases.”

AIMEDBIO was established in 2018 as a spin-off from Samsung Medical Center. It is based on over 30 years of research by Professor Nam Do-hyun, a globally recognized expert in brain tumors. The company operates an integrated, big data-driven target discovery platform: ▲ an in-house antibody development platform ▲ a preclinical evaluation platform using PDC/PDX models and ▲ a proprietary linker-payload platform. Earlier this year, it successfully out-licensed its ADC candidate to U.S.-based Biohaven.

[Photo Caption] SK plasma held a signing ceremony with AIMEDBIO for the joint development and licensing of an ADC cancer therapeutic. (From right) Kim Seung-joo, CEO of SK plasma, and Her Nam-gu, CEO of AIMEDBIO.