[Edaily Reporter YU JIN-HEE ] #Cellbion Co., Ltd, a company specializing in radiopharmaceuticals, is joining forces with the long-established mid-sized pharmaceutical company AHN-GOOK PHARMACEUTICAL Co., Ltd.(001540)to begin developing next-generation targeted cancer therapies. This move is intended to accelerate their entry into the radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) market—which has rapidly emerged as a global trend in cancer treatment—by combining the platform technology of a biotech firm specialized in radiopharmaceutical research and development (R&D) with the company’s solid pharmaceutical commercialization capabilities.

Cellbion Co., Ltd. announced on the 8th that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with AHN-GOOK PHARMACEUTICAL Co., Ltd. to collaborate on joint research for new drugs in the radiopharmaceutical field. With this agreement as a starting point, the two companies have agreed to launch a joint research platform for discovering next-generation targeted cancer therapies and to fully engage in technology exchange.

Under the agreement, the two companies will maintain a comprehensive partnership across the entire RPT sector, including: △ establishing a cooperative framework for joint research on radiopharmaceutical-based targeted cancer therapies; △ exchanging relevant core technologies and academic information; and △ jointly identifying new drug candidates and collaborating on preclinical and clinical trials.

Radiopharmaceuticals are next-generation anticancer drugs that precisely target cancer cells by linking a radioactive isotope to a targeting molecule—such as a peptide or antibody—via a linker, enabling it to bind specifically to the surface of cancer cells. This mechanism effectively kills tumor cells through radiation exposure while minimizing damage to healthy cells. Global pharmaceutical giants such as Novartis, Lilly, and AstraZeneca have recently been making headlines with a series of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and technology acquisitions worth trillions of won, drawing worldwide attention to this field.

The two companies plan to systematically develop a new targeted RPT pipeline that overcomes the limitations of existing therapies by organically combining Cellbion Co., Ltd.’s expertise in radioisotope labeling technology and formulation with AHN-GOOK PHARMACEUTICAL Co., Ltd.’s capabilities in candidate screening and translational research.

Cellbion Co., Ltd. is a specialized R&D company focused on radiopharmaceuticals based on theranostics, which simultaneously enables diagnosis and treatment. Its flagship pipeline, “177Lu-DGUL,” a treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), has successfully completed a Phase 2 clinical trial in Korea and is currently undergoing the formal review process after applying for conditional marketing authorization with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Based on the safety and efficacy demonstrated in clinical trials, the product is widely regarded as nearing commercialization.

AHN-GOOK PHARMACEUTICAL Co., Ltd. has leveraged an open innovation strategy as a growth engine, actively incorporating promising biotechnologies and innovative new drug assets. As AHN-GOOK PHARMACEUTICAL Co., Ltd. continues to expand its research collaborations with promising external companies, this agreement serves as a springboard to rapidly expand its existing portfolio—which has traditionally focused on synthetic pharmaceuticals—into the field of radiopharmaceuticals, a next-generation cancer treatment modality.

Kim Kwon, CEO of Cellbion Co., Ltd., emphasized, “AHN-GOOK PHARMACEUTICAL Co., Ltd. is a pharmaceutical company with extensive experience in drug development and commercialization, and this collaboration will serve as a decisive turning point for creating opportunities for innovative radiopharmaceutical R&D by combining the expertise of both companies.” He added, “Through close and continuous collaboration, we will maximize business synergies and lay a solid foundation for mutual growth.”

Park In-cheol, Co-CEO of AHN-GOOK PHARMACEUTICAL Co., Ltd., remarked, “This partnership is a meaningful challenge toward developing next-generation innovative anti-cancer drugs, and we have high expectations for it as it completes our collaborative infrastructure with Cellbion Co., Ltd., which possesses a high level of expertise.” He added, “We will continue to work closely together to combine the strengths of both companies and achieve meaningful R&D results.”