[TIDE Reporter Kim Seung-kwon ] HLB PANAGENE(046210)has further strengthened its intellectual property (IP) competitiveness in the field of antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs)—which are gaining attention as next-generation therapeutic modalities—through the filing of key patents and selection for a government-funded project.

HLB PANAGENE announced on the 30th that it recently filed a patent application for “Gamma (γ)-Modified PNA (Artificial DNA) or Therapeutic Compositions.”

The core of this patent lies in the integration of gamma-aminocarboxylic acid (γ-ACA) modification technology into the company’s proprietary peptide nucleic acid (PNA) platform.

Previously, HLB PANAGENE published research findings in the international academic journal *Current Issues in Molecular Biology* showing that γ-ACA-modified PNA effectively suppressed the tumor-inducing microRNA (miR-221-3p) in lung cancer cell lines and restored the expression of the tumor suppressor gene CDKN1B (p27).

This patent application is intended to secure intellectual property rights based on these research findings and to strengthen the foundation for future therapeutic development and commercialization. Through this technology, HLB PANAGENE has secured a competitive edge in PNA-based payload technology—the core component of AOCs—which combines the precise targeting capabilities of antibodies with the gene regulation functions of nucleic acid therapeutics.

Substances such as phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs), which have been used as conventional AOC payloads, have fixed chemical structures, limiting their potential for performance enhancement. However, HLB PANAGENE’s γ-ACA modification technology—one of its PNA chemical structure modification techniques—is designed from the PNA backbone design stage to enhance binding affinity with nucleic acids and the efficiency of gene expression suppression, enabling performance that differentiates it from existing payloads.

In addition, HLB PANAGENE was selected for the “3rd IP-R&D Strategic Support Project for the Second Half of 2026,” led by the Korea Institute of Patent Strategy and Development. Based on this selection, the company plans to analyze patent barriers in the AOC field and refine its strategy for securing global patents.

This project supports the development of a patent strategy related to HLB PANAGENE’s proprietary platform, the “Antibody-modified PNA Conjugate.” Key tasks include strategies to avoid infringement risks through prior art analysis, strategies for creating foundational patents, and guidance on R&D direction based on competitor trend analysis.

An HLB PANAGENE official stated, “We will continuously enhance our PNA scaffold design capabilities and patent strategy to secure differentiated technological competitiveness in the AOC field—which is gaining attention as the next-generation modality following ADCs—and simultaneously strengthen the foundation for commercializing our platform targeting the global market.”