[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyung-il ] ABION Inc.(203400), a company developing new anticancer drugs based on companion diagnostics, is expanding the value of its new anticancer drugs by leveraging the clinical results of its non-small cell lung cancer treatment candidate, Babamekip (ABN401), and its next-generation immuno-oncology platform, “Interferon Beta Antibody Conjugate (iRAC).” iRAC is a first-in-class immuno-oncology platform that combines a tumor-targeting antibody with a variant of IFN-β, an immunomodulatory substance.

On the 29th, GL Research made this statement regarding ABION Inc., noting that the company is expanding its pipeline centered on Babamekip—a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping—as well as the interferon beta (IFN-β)-based iRAC and the claudin (CLDN)3 antibody platform. It also interpreted the company’s strategy as validating the efficacy and commercial potential of its candidate compounds before pursuing joint development or technology transfer with global pharmaceutical companies.

Park Chang-yoon, a researcher at G.L. Research, stated, “Babamekip, which presented its global Phase 2 clinical trial results at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2026, recorded an objective response rate of 55% and a median duration of response of 14.5 months,” adding “It has demonstrated antitumor efficacy comparable to that of existing approved drugs, and the company aims to complete the Phase 2 clinical trial in the fourth quarter of this year and secure additional technology transfers.”

Furthermore, ABION Inc.’s iRAC—unlike conventional antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that release their cytotoxic payload after cellular internalization—targets unmet medical needs arising from ADC resistance or treatment failure through a mechanism that acts within the tumor microenvironment.

Researcher Park explained, “ABN202 demonstrated antitumor activity in a tropomyosin-2 (TROP-2) ADC-resistant breast cancer model and showed a higher tumor suppression effect than the combination group of ADC and anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (anti-PD-1),” adding, “The expansion of CD8-positive T cells and the potential for long-term immune memory were confirmed.”

ABN202 has completed in vitro and in vivo efficacy evaluations and is currently proceeding with: △ non-Good Laboratory Practice (Non-GLP) monkey toxicity studies; △ GLP toxicity studies; △ selection of a contract research organization (CRO); and △ process development and preparation for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production. The company aims to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the first half of next year and plans to pursue global technology transfer or joint development during the preclinical phase.

G.L. Research stated, “ABN501 is an antibody candidate that targets claudin-3, which is expressed in various solid tumors, and is currently being developed with small cell lung cancer as the priority indication,” adding “In addition to combination therapy with monoclonal antibodies and chemotherapeutic agents, we are expanding our modalities to include iRAC, ADCs, and T-cell engagers. We are also exploring the development of bispecific antibodies and bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that simultaneously target CLDN3 and delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) or B7 homolog 3 (B7-H3).”