Q3 South Korean Pharma-Biotech: Platform & AI Collaboration

Open innovation in South Korea's pharmaceutical and biotech ecosystem has matured, fostering collaborative R&D, business cooperation agreements (MOUs), and formal partnerships between companies. HitNews reviewed major R&D and partnership trends among pharmaceutical and biotech companies in Q3 (July–September) of this year, showcasing alliances between established pharmaceutical firms and biotech ventures, as well as forward-thinking partnerships within the biotech sector.

In July, Yuhan Corporation (CEO Wook-Je Jo) launched a comprehensive R&D partnership with Progen (CEO Jong-Gyun Kim), a biotech focused on next-generation treatments for obesity and diabetes based on its NTIG bispecific antibody platform. This partnership aims to bolster global competitiveness for innovative drug candidates. A joint drug development committee with experts from both companies will focus on advancing next-generation biologics. Initial efforts target an immuno-oncology bispecific antibody, with discussions for further projects ongoing.

Progen's NTIG technology enhances protein stability, prolongs plasma half-life, and facilitates multi-target fusion proteins and bispecific ADCs. Additionally, Yuhan entered a joint research agreement with Prazer Therapeutics to develop selective protein degraders (TPDs) using Prazer's SPiDEM (Selective Protein Degradation Enabling Moiety) technology. This partnership aims to address current limitations in protein degradation and open new pathways for innovative therapies.

In August, LG Chem signed a research contract with Galux, aiming to leverage Galux’s AI-driven drug design for anti-cancer drug development. Under this partnership, Galux will design protein lead compounds using AI, while LG Chem will manage optimization studies, preclinical, and global clinical trials. Hee-Bong Lee, head of R&D at LG Chem’s Life Sciences Division, emphasized the collaboration’s potential to streamline development and produce competitive anti-cancer drugs.

In a similar effort, Preclina, a preclinical CRO, signed an MOU with Syntekabio, an AI-driven drug developer, to create an AI-powered business model for drug development. This partnership merges Syntekabio’s AI platform with Preclina's expertise in immune-related disease studies.

In September, Prestige BioPharma IDC (CEO Sang-Seok Ko) formed a strategic MOU with Aptis (CEO Tae-Dong Han), a Dong-A ST subsidiary, to jointly develop next-generation ADCs for cancer. The MOU signing took place at Aptis’s R&D center in Yongin. The collaboration focuses on Prestige BioPharma IDC’s ADC pipeline, including “IDC441,” with proof of concept (PoC) completion targeted by mid-next year. CEO Han expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing the potential for globally competitive oncology therapies through their combined efforts.