[Edaily Reporter KIM JI-WAN ] SCL Science(246960)is accelerating its new drug development efforts, spearheaded by vaccines for liver and ovarian cancer. With the goal of submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application next year, the company is finalizing hospital partnerships and manufacturing preparations, while expanding its development scope to include ready-to-use cancer vaccines that can be administered to a wide range of patients.

KIWOOM Securities released a report on the 19th titled “SCL Science: Growth Strategy Taking Shape Around Cancer Vaccines.”

Shin Min-soo, an analyst at KIWOOM Securities, stated, “The company is preparing to enter Phase 1 clinical trials for liver and ovarian cancer vaccines, with the goal of submitting an IND application in 2027,” adding, “Patient recruitment channels and target populations have also been largely finalized.”

The company is collaborating with researchers at Cha Hospital for liver cancer and at Severance Hospital for ovarian cancer. It is currently in the process of selecting a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) to handle the production of clinical trial drugs.

At the heart of this development is its subsidiary, Neogen Logic, which has been researching cancer vaccines for over 10 years. SCL Science plans to strengthen its in-house development capabilities in the medium to long term by internalizing Neogen Logic’s cancer vaccine technology and intellectual property (IP).

Researcher Shin explained, “We plan to develop the vaccine in-house up to the Phase 1 clinical trial,” adding, “We expect to secure research funding through group investments and by attracting strategic investors (SIs).”

The company is also pursuing ready-to-use cancer vaccines as a new growth driver. It is currently in discussions with domestic vaccine companies regarding joint research and will utilize the antigen discovery platform DarkNeo. DarkNeo is a technology that identifies target antigens for cancer vaccines within the “dark proteome”—a region of proteins that has not yet been fully characterized.

Researcher Shin analyzed, “The strategy involves identifying antigens applicable to a wide range of patients and combining them with existing anticancer drugs,” adding, “We expect this to alleviate manufacturing burdens and enhance the platform’s scalability beyond its current scope.”

The company is also expanding its hemostatic agent and early-diagnosis businesses. The hemostatic agent “InnoSeal Plus DL” has secured in-hospital codes at St. Mary’s Hospital, Severance Hospital, and Korea University Hospital. The company is pursuing entry into additional major hospitals and overseas supply, and securing additional volume beyond existing supply contracts is key to expanding sales.

For the platelet-based multi-cancer early diagnosis test, the company is conducting a validation clinical trial with Severance Hospital using specimens from 1,000 cancer patients across five cancer types. Results are expected as early as the first half of next year.

Researcher Shin stated, “While existing ctDNA-based tests cost around 2 million won, we are aiming for a test price that significantly improves patient accessibility.”

On that day, KIWOOM Securities did not issue a separate investment opinion or target price for SCL Science.