[Min Ji-Son, Edaily Reporter] On November 11, South Korean pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare stocks rose across the board amid a market rebound. MedPacto surged after preclinical findings for its cancer drug candidate MP010 were featured on the cover of an international scientific journal, fueling expectations for an upcoming clinical trial application and potential licensing deals. Curiosis also rebounded on optimism that shipments under its global original design manufacturing (ODM) agreements would accelerate in the fourth quarter. Orders and revenue from customers including Revvity Biomed and an unnamed German company will be key to its earnings outlook.

MedPacto Hits Daily Limit Up on Promising MP010 Preclinical Results

According to KG Zeroin’s MP Doctor platform, MedPacto closed at 4,660 won on the KOSDAQ, up 29.99%, or 1,075 won, from the previous session. Buying interest emerged early in the session, pushing the stock to its daily upper limit.

Investor sentiment was bolstered by a combination of promising preclinical findings for MP010, expectations for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application, and discussions with global pharmaceutical companies regarding potential licensing and research collaborations.

Particular attention was focused on animal studies suggesting that MP010 could not only eliminate existing tumors but also help prevent recurrence and generate immune responses against other types of cancer.

MedPacto announced Tuesday that its preclinical research on MP010 had been selected as the cover article for the November issue of *Cancer Cell*, an international oncology journal.

MP010 is an experimental cancer therapy designed to selectively block the activity of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), a protein that can suppress immune cell activity within the tumor microenvironment.

By disrupting the immunosuppressive environment surrounding cancer cells, the drug aims to enable immune cells to attack tumors more effectively.

In animal models of pancreatic cancer, researchers observed complete tumor regression in 75% to 87.5% of treated animals.

When the same cancer cells were reintroduced into animals whose tumors had disappeared, no new tumors developed. In additional experiments involving different pancreatic cancer cells or lung and bladder cancer cells, more than 80% of the animals remained tumor-free.

The researchers attributed these findings to immune memory generated during treatment, which may help protect against both cancer recurrence and other types of tumors.

“We are already pursuing commercialization activities at the preclinical stage, and with an IND submission planned for early next year, the market appears to be responding positively to the fact that concrete development milestones are coming into view rather than this being limited to a journal publication,” a MedPacto official said.

"Preparations for the IND application, including toxicology studies, are also nearing completion," the official added.

MedPacto is initially focusing on pancreatic cancer while exploring the potential to expand MP010 into other indications, including breast cancer and glioblastoma (GBM).

The company aims to secure IND approvals in both South Korea and the United States early next year.

However, the efficacy findings so far are limited to animal studies. The drug’s safety and effectiveness will still need to be established in human clinical trials.

Another factor fueling investor expectations is MedPacto’s participation in BIO-Europe, held November 9–11 in Cologne, Germany.

At the event, the company is presenting MP010’s research findings to global pharmaceutical companies and exploring potential licensing and joint research opportunities.

No commercialization strategy has been finalized.

“We are exploring various possibilities,” said a MedPacto official. “Options could include pursuing a licensing deal as the program enters clinical development or securing support for clinical trials through a research collaboration.”

Curiosis Rebounds on Expectations for Global ODM Shipments

Curiosis closed at 13,400 won on the KOSDAQ, up 11.85%, or 1,420 won, from the previous session.

The rebound followed a steep decline in the company’s share price, driven by improving sentiment across the biotech sector and expectations that shipments under its global ODM agreements would begin to accelerate in the fourth quarter.

A key question for investors is whether agreements with Revvity Biomed and an unnamed German company—referred to as Company M—will translate into actual purchase orders and revenue.

“There does not appear to have been any particular company-specific catalyst behind today’s rise,” a Curiosis official said. “However, the stock had fallen significantly, and expectations surrounding the ramp-up of global ODM shipments starting in the fourth quarter may have contributed to the rebound.”

Curiosis has been expanding its ODM business by adding the German company to its international customer base alongside Revvity.

Under both agreements, Curiosis develops and manufactures products based on its proprietary technologies, customizing them to meet customer specifications. The products are then sold under the customers’ brands through their existing distribution networks.

This arrangement allows Curiosis to leverage its partners’ global sales channels while reducing the time and expense required to build its own international distribution infrastructure.

The agreement with Company M covers the global supply of automated cell imaging equipment.

Curiosis will supply a customized version of its Celloger Mini Plus live-cell imaging system, incorporating software modifications requested by the German customer. The product will be marketed under Company M’s brand.

The contract has an initial term of five years and will automatically renew for successive one-year periods.

However, the agreement does not specify a minimum order quantity (MOQ). Production and revenue will depend on individual purchase orders (POs) placed from various markets worldwide.

While this limits near-term revenue visibility, the global distribution scope offers potential for longer-term growth.

The Revvity agreement provides comparatively greater revenue visibility because committed supply volumes are incorporated into the contract.

Earlier this year, Curiosis signed an additional supply agreement with Revvity for its colony picker (CPX) system and extended an existing agreement covering high-throughput screening (HTS) live-cell imaging systems through March 2029.

The total supply value under the agreement increased to approximately 10 billion won, and the contract structure was revised to establish quarterly minimum order quantities.

Setting volumes on a quarterly basis allows Curiosis to manage production schedules and revenue forecasts with greater precision.

Meanwhile, Curiosis is finalizing the development of an incubator incorporating intellectual property licensed from Japan.

"Development of the incubator’s core technology is in its final stages, and we expect to launch the product by early next year at the latest," said a Curiosis official.