[Edaily Reporter Minji Son ] #

LGCHEM,LTD is set to begin preclinical research on “GNV205,” an antibody-cytokine fusion candidate acquired from the domestic biotech firm GenuV. The company plans to develop it as a next-generation therapy for patients who do not respond adequately to existing immunotherapy drugs or have developed resistance to them.

LGCHEM,LTD announced on the 19th that it is beginning preclinical studies to evaluate the anticancer efficacy and safety of GNV205. Based on the research results, the company plans to review the feasibility of advancing to clinical trials and expand its portfolio of new anticancer drugs.

GNV205 is an antibody-cytokine fusion protein that combines a PD-1 antibody, which blocks immune-suppressive signals, with the immune-activating cytokine “interleukin-2” (IL-2). It is specifically designed to optimize drug activity in the highly acidic tumor microenvironment. The development goal is to reduce systemic toxicity—a limitation of existing IL-2 therapies—and enhance anti-cancer immune effects by enabling IL-2 to act selectively around cancer cells.

Previously, in September of last year, LGCHEM,LTD signed an agreement with Genube to secure exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize GNV205. Under this agreement, LGCHEM,LTD paid an upfront fee and plans to pay conditional milestone payments and sales royalties at each stage of future development and commercialization.

LGCHEM,LTD stated that it is strengthening its direct commercialization capabilities in the oncology field and building a sustainable pipeline of new drugs through comprehensive open innovation both domestically and internationally, adding that this agreement is particularly significant for evaluating and expanding the global development potential of promising candidate compounds from domestic biotech companies.

LGCHEM,LTD plans to develop GNV205 as a next-generation immuno-oncology drug for cancer patients who do not respond adequately to existing immuno-oncology therapies or who have developed resistance.

Genube, a biotech company founded in 2016, is developing anticancer drugs and central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics based on its proprietary new drug development platform.

Son Ji-woong, Head of LGCHEM,LTD’s Life Sciences Business Division, said, “LGCHEM plans to continue expanding its pipeline of new anticancer drugs by maintaining a balanced approach between in-house R&D and the adoption of innovative external technologies.” He added, “This collaboration signifies the expansion of innovative assets discovered by a domestic biotech company into a next-generation global anticancer portfolio.”