On the 26th, SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Crosspoint on the 23rd at the Samyang Discovery Center in Pangyo to develop next-generation targeted, selective gene therapies.
The two companies will conduct research to combine SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION’s polymer- and lipid-based gene delivery platform, “X-SENS,” with Crosspoint’s antibody platform, “StealthBody.” X-SENS is a technology for delivering nucleic acids into cells, while StealthBody is an antibody platform that targets specific tumor cells. The two companies aim to develop next-generation gene therapies that deliver short interfering RNA (siRNA) to target cells using these two technologies.
The two companies have been exploring the potential for combining the two platforms since August of last year. They have conducted initial evaluations using cell and animal models, and under this agreement, they will jointly conduct follow-up research over the next two years to verify technical feasibility and demonstrate proof of concept (PoC). Based on the research results, they also plan to evaluate the potential for preclinical development and commercialization.
X-SENS is a technology that expands on SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION’s existing gene delivery platform, “SENS.” It utilizes ionizable lipids and biodegradable polymers and is designed to bind various target ligands. The company explained that, compared to existing lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), it reduces immune responses and toxicity associated with repeated administration and can deliver nucleic acids to organs such as the lungs and spleen, in addition to the liver.
StealthBody is a platform that introduces mutations into the Fc region of antibodies to inhibit their binding to Fc receptors on immune cells. It focuses on reducing unnecessary immune cell activation and drug uptake by non-target cells while maintaining the antibody’s target-binding function.
Kim Kyung-jin, CEO of SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION, stated, “Through this agreement, we plan to develop next-generation gene therapies that can directly target cancer cells beyond specific organs by combining StealthBody’s antibodies with SENS,” adding, “Based on the strengths of the SENS platform, we will demonstrate our technological competitiveness in the anti-cancer gene therapy market.”
Meanwhile, SAMYANG BIOPHARM CORPORATION, which was spun off from the Samyang Group holding company in November of last year, is solidifying its position as the group’s specialized pharmaceutical and biotech affiliate. In addition to developing new drugs using drug delivery technologies, the company’s core businesses include medical devices—primarily biodegradable sutures, which hold the top global market share, and aesthetic and plastic surgery products—as well as anticancer drugs, including “Genexol,” the anticancer drug with the top market share in the domestic paclitaxel market.
