SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION: “Double Boost” Including In-House Delivery System Research
Amid growing recognition of the potential for mRNA technology to expand into the cancer treatment field, driven by clinical results from Moderna and MSD, SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION’s announcement on the same day of research results regarding its proprietary mRNA cancer vaccine delivery system drove up its stock price. The company explained that the timing of the two announcements was coincidental.
SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION announced that a paper detailing the preclinical research results of “NanoReady”—a delivery vehicle based on its proprietary gene delivery platform “SENS”—was published in the international academic journal *Journal of Controlled Release*.
When cancer antigen mRNA was loaded onto NanoReady and administered to non-human primates, the results showed that the delivery vehicle selectively delivered the antigen mRNA to spleen cells responsible for immune function and induced a T-cell immune response against the cancer antigen. Evaluations of blood and tissue samples following repeated dosing revealed no signs of systemic toxicity.
NanoRedi is designed so that the delivery vehicle can be manufactured and stored in advance, ready to be loaded with the necessary mRNA. The company explains that once mRNA tailored to a patient’s specific characteristics is prepared, it can be mixed with the delivery vehicle to create a vaccine, thereby shortening the manufacturing time for personalized cancer vaccines.
SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION official stated, “While existing lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) require the carrier to be manufactured together with the mRNA after it is prepared, NanoReady allows the carrier to be produced in advance without mRNA,” adding, “Once patient-specific mRNA becomes available, it can be mixed with the carrier to create a vaccine, making the manufacturing process faster.”
Unlike lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which are commonly used as mRNA delivery vehicles, NanoReady features a multilayer structure. According to the company, it can carry approximately 20 times more mRNA per particle than LNPs. Furthermore, by avoiding the use of PEG-lipids and PC-based auxiliary lipids, it reduces the risk of hypersensitivity reactions that may occur with repeated administration and the likelihood of rapid clearance of the particles from the body.
SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION is applying NanoReady to its own pipeline while also keeping the door open for global technology transfers and joint development opportunities.
SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION official stated, “In the future, we may explore collaborations involving NanoReady not only through technology transfer but also through the joint development of candidate compounds,” adding, “Once our dedicated gene therapy production facility in Daejeon—currently under construction with a target completion date of the third quarter of next year—is finished, we expect the follow-up development of candidate compounds utilizing NanoReady to gain momentum starting in the second half of next year.”
“Even a brush of the sleeve sends the stock soaring”… Moderna-led biotech rallyIn addition to SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION, domestic stocks with ties to Moderna and MSD, as well as those developing mRNA and anti-cancer platforms, all showed strong gains.
Psomagen, Inc.(950200), which has been supplying DNA and RNA genomic analysis services to Moderna, closed at 3,750 won, up 29.98% (865 won). NIBEC CO., LTD.(138610), which is developing “PEPTARDEL,” a peptide-based mRNA drug delivery platform designed to complement LNP, closed at 19,100 won, up 19.82% (3,160 won).
Alteogen Inc., which licensed its technology for converting Keytruda to a subcutaneous (SC) formulation to MSD, rose 11.86% (36,000 won) to close at 339,500 won. ST Pharm Co., Ltd., which possesses mRNA capping and LNP delivery technologies, also closed up 11.68% (11,600 won) at 110,900 won.
Even among companies with only a slight direct connection to mRNA delivery systems, optimism spread to those conducting research on Keytruda combination therapies or cancer vaccines.
Some companies are also seeking to establish connections. GI Innovation Inc.(358570)closed at 8,800 won, up 7.98% (650 won) from the previous trading day. The company explained to shareholders that day that the clinical results from Moderna and MSD had positive implications for the development and commercialization of its immuno-oncology candidate “GI-102.”
This assessment stems from the view that the clinical results demonstrated the potential of a strategy combining Keytruda with an immune activator. The company explained that the potential for utilizing IL-2 could also increase in the process of amplifying the immune response induced by the cancer vaccine.
A representative from GI Innovation Inc. stated, “Moderna views personalized cancer vaccines as a therapeutic strategy that induces an immune response against a patient’s tumor-specific antigens, and the company aims to expand this approach beyond melanoma to other cancers.” The representative added, “In this context, there is a need for a substance to amplify the immune response induced by the vaccine, and IL-2 is the most essential component for this purpose; consequently, the importance of safe IL-2 products like GI-102 is likely to grow.”
MedPacto, Inc.(235980)closed at 2,590 won, up 6.37% (155 won) from the previous trading day. The stock price rose as the potential for its TGF-β inhibitor “Bactosetip” to be used as a combination therapy to enhance the immune response of cancer vaccines came into focus.
MedPacto, Inc. recently published the results of a preclinical study combining Bactosetip with “PROTEXI,” the cancer vaccine platform developed by its U.S. affiliate Celoram, in the international journal *Nature Communications*. In animal experiments, tumor size in the combination therapy group decreased to 25% or less of that in the group treated with PROTEC Co., Ltd. alone, and the survival rate on day 25 exceeded 75% for the combination group, compared to approximately 50% for the monotherapy group.
A MedPacto, Inc. official explained, “Cancer vaccines have historically faced limitations such as insufficient immune responses, low therapeutic efficacy, and difficulties in designing clinical strategies,” adding, “Since Baekto-Seotip improves the immunosuppressive environment around tumors, helping immune cells attack cancer more effectively, it is a meaningful combination strategy for enhancing the efficacy of cancer vaccines.”
Another key connection is that THERAGEN ETEX CO.,LTD., which is MedPacto, Inc.’s largest shareholder, is pursuing the development of personalized cancer vaccines. THERAGEN Bio, a subsidiary of THERAGEN ETEX CO.,LTD., is participating as a co-researcher in the “Establishment of a Patient-Adapted Anticancer Vaccine Development Platform” (PAVE) project—the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Korean version of ARPA-H. According to MedPacto, Inc., related cancer vaccine research has completed preclinical trials and is preparing to enter clinical trials.
A MedPacto, Inc. official stated, “Moderna’s recent achievement could serve as an opportunity to more broadly consider the potential of personalized cancer vaccines in clinical design and the regulatory approval process,” adding, “We expect this to create a positive development environment for companies that possess the relevant core technologies and are preparing to enter clinical trials.”
Meanwhile, some observers point out that today’s upward trend is closer to short-term thematic buying than to actual benefits. Analysts suggest that investor sentiment rapidly spread to related domestic stocks after Moderna’s stock price soared 177% on the New York Stock Exchange last night and MSD hit a record high.
A bioindustry official noted, “It is positive that Moderna’s Phase 3 clinical trial results have heightened the potential for mRNA cancer vaccines and combination therapy strategies,” but added, “Since the improvement in investor sentiment has extended even to stocks not directly related to the Moderna and MSD developments, this trend may be short-lived; we need to wait and see whether it leads to actual outcomes such as technology transfers or contract awards.”
