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161

AbClon pursue strategy for next-generation CAR T-cell therap…

AbClon announced on the 14th that it has secured preclinical-stage technology for CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy targeting solid tumors, in addition to its efforts in blood cancer. This endeavor aims to provide a treatment for solid tumor patients who have suffered the limits of existing anticancer treatments with AbClon's next-generation CAR-T therapy.   AbClon is currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial in South Korea for its first CAR-T therapy, AT101, targeting hematologic malignancies. The company recently completed a technology transfer to Turkey and plans to expand its indications to the solid tumor field based on the success of its blood cancer treatment.   As part of this strategy, the company is co-developing a Claudin18.2-targeting CAR-T therapy with Professor Chung Joon-ho's research team at Seoul National University College of Medicine. This CAR-T targets a protein highly expressed in refractory solid tumors such as gastric and pancreatic cancers. The currently available treatments in this area have low response rates and significant drug resistance issues, leading to high unmet medical needs.   Professor Chung's research team developed antibodies specific to Claudin18.2 based on VHH (single-domain antibody) and scFv (single-chain antibody) obtained from specialized animal immunization and antibody gene technology. AbClon explained that it has confirmed the preclinical potential of the CAR-T therapy for solid tumors using these antibodies.   The company is also developing AT501, a next-generation switchable CAR-T therapy targeting HER2. AT501 is a platform that allows precise control of CAR-T cell activation when administered with a specific switch protein. This switch technology, which selectively targets HER2, has demonstrated excellent anticancer efficacy in animal models and has the advantage of enhancing anticancer effects with switch re-administration even in responsive/relapsed models. The company stated that this technology has drawn significant interest from overseas companies and research institutes.   In addition, AbClon is developing a CAR-T therapy targeting CD30 for patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma. This is being done in collaboration with Dr. Marco Ruella's research team at the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN) School of Medicine and is expected to provide a new option for patients who do not respond to existing treatments. In particular, this therapy is being developed as a next-generation CAR-T therapy to overcome the tumor microenvironment (TME) by utilizing BTLA (B and T Lymphocyte Attenuator) gene editing technology.   An AbClon official stated, "We plan to continuously expand the indications for refractory solid tumors by integrating our antibody platform technology and cell therapy development capabilities." They added, "We will continue to pursue a differentiated new drug development strategy in the global anticancer market and become a leading company in the next-generation immuno-oncology field." End.   

2025-04-14 4
160

AbClon’s CAR-T Therapy ‘AT101’ Expands Blood Cancer Indicati…

AbClon to Expand Indications of CAR-T Therapy ‘AT101’ into Follicular Lymphoma (FL) and Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL), Aiming for IND Approval This Year   April 10th – AbClon (CEO Lee Jong-seo) announced that the company will expand the indications of its CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy ‘AT101’ into follicular lymphoma (FL) and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). AbClon aims to obtain Investigational New Drug (IND) approval in Korea within this year.   Currently, AT101 is in Phase 2 clinical trial in Korea for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a subtype of blood cancer. Through this expansion of indications, AbClon aims to strengthen its competitiveness and position in domestic and international CAR-T therapy markets. The company anticipates that this study will provide broader treatment options for domestic hematologic cancer patients and secure an advantageous position in global technology transfer negotiations by the enhancement of platform's value.   ‘AT101’, a CD19 CAR-T therapy independently developed in Korea, is based on AbClon's proprietary platform technology. The Phase 2 clinical trial targeting DLBCL patients, who account for over 40% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients, is progressing smoothly, and the company plans to pursue accelerated approval within the first half of this year.   Separately, FL and MZL account for over 25% of NHL cases worldwide, with approximately 1,500 new patients diagnosed annually in Korea. Both are CD19-expressing hematologic cancers, making them potential targets for CAR-T therapy. AbClon believes that AT101 can secure a relative therapeutic advantage based on its efficacy and mechanism of action, potentially becoming an effective treatment for both domestic medical institutions and patients.   Regarding its global technology transfer strategy, the company stated that this expansion of indications offers significant meaning. While the global CD19 CAR-T therapy market is experiencing a high compound annual growth rate of over 30%, CAR-T therapy has not yet actively penetrated the FL and MZL sectors. If AT101 secures clinical evidence for FL and MZL in addition to DLBCL, it can maximize its competitiveness in global licensing-out negotiations as a platform technology covering multiple indications with a single pipeline.   An AbClon representative stated, "The expanded application of efficacy, securing original technology, and flexibility in clinical trial design are key factors that will allow Abclon to gain a strategic advantage in the global market." They added, "AT101 is a next-generation gene-modified cell therapy that overcomes the fundamental limitations of CAR-T therapies."   The representative further emphasized, "This expansion of indications is part of multi-purpose strategy to broaden treatment opportunities for domestic patients as well as laying a practical foundation for global technology export." [End]   

2025-04-10 4
159

AbClon, " Presents Latest Research on AM105: Overcoming EGFR…

AbClon announced on the 31st that it will present the latest research findings on its immuno-oncology drug candidate AM105 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025.   AACR, the world's largest cancer research conference, will be held in Chicago, USA, from April 25th to 30th. Experts from the global pharmaceutical and biotech industries will gather to present research results and explore global collaborations.   The bispecific antibody therapy AM105 is composed of a novel monoclonal antibody based on AffiMab technology and Affibody. It is a next-generation immuno-oncology antibody platform that effectively eliminates cancer cells by simultaneously targeting EGFR, a major tumor target in colorectal and lung cancer, and CD137, the co-stimulatory factors of T-cell.   AbClon will present differentiated mechanisms of action and animal study results based on the superior efficacy of AM105. In particular, the company plans to demonstrate the potential of its bispecific antibody platform AffiMab to overcome resistance, focusing on its superior anti-cancer effects compared to existing EGFR-targeted therapies. This is expected to provide new treatment options for patients whose response to existing therapies has diminished due to resistance.   Furthermore, AM105 demonstrates potential anti-cancer effects not only in patients with limited response to representative antibody therapies such as Cetuximab and Panitumumab, but also in patients with resistance to EGFR inhibitors such as Gefitinib and Erolotinib. The company explained that this differentiated mechanism of action suggests the potential for AM105 to expand into various cancer types, including colorectal and lung cancer, and is attracting attention as an innovative approach to overcoming EGFR resistance.   An AbClon representative stated, "We will pursue collaboration with global pharmaceutical companies and explore various collaboration opportunities such as technology transfer and joint development. We will strive to widely publicize the potential of AM105 as a next-generation therapy for colorectal and lung cancer, and to provide new hope for patients with intractable cancers who lack treatment options due to EGFR resistance." Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with approximately 2.5 million new cases occurring annually, accounting for 12.4% of all cancers. Colorectal cancer also has 1.9 million new cases annually, accounting for 9.6% of all new cancer cases. The lung cancer treatment market is projected to reach $56 billion by 2030, and the colorectal cancer treatment market is expected to reach $18.1 billion. 

2025-03-31 48
158

AbClon’s AC101, Dosed to the First Patient Dosed in Japan: P…

On the 27th, AbClon announced the first patient dosing in Japan for the international multicenter Phase 3 clinical trial (HLX22-GC-301) of AC101 in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy. AC101, which was licensed out by AbClon to Henlius, is being developed under the code name HLX22 as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer and gastroesophageal junction (G∙GEJ) cancer.   The principal investigator of the clinical trial is Professor Lin Shen from Peking University Cancer Hospital. In China the first patient dosing of HLX22 has already carried out and the global Phase 3 trial is also underway in the United States. Particularly in Japan, patient dosing proceeded rapidly after a recent investigator meeting, which the company demonstrated high interest and active commitment to the clinical trial. To date, no dual HER2 blockade therapy like this has been commercially approved worldwide for HER2-positive gastric cancer.   Gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer still remain as a global health problem. In 2022, approximately 1 million new cases occurred worldwide, and in Japan, gastric cancer ranked the third in incidence and mortality among all cancers. In the same year, about 127,000 new cases were reported in Japan, with 44,000 deaths.   Gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers are often diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to poor prognosis, with a 5-year relative survival rate of only 6%. Among gastric cancer patients, about 12-23% are HER2-positive, which is known to have a worse prognosis than HER2-negative cases. The current standard first-line treatment for HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic cancer is a combination of trastuzumab and chemotherapy, with immunotherapy additionally recommended based on PD-L1 expression (CPS (Combined Positive Score) >1). However, there are still limitations in improving treatment effectiveness and prognosis.   HLX22 is an innovative anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody developed by AbClon, which binds to a different site from trastuzumab (HER2 extracellular domain IV) and simultaneously inhibits HER2 homodimers and HER2∙EGFR heterodimers. This mechanism facilitates HER2 receptor internalization and dimer breakdown, maximizing anticancer effects. In Phase 2, HLX22 was administered in combination with HLX02 (trastuzumab biosimilar) and XELOX (chemotherapy) as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive locally advanced/metastatic gastric cancer, resulting in improved treatment efficacy and manageable safety. These study results were officially presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI) this year. The Phase 3 trial is a double-blind, randomized, controlled, multicenter study. It aims to compare the efficacy and safety of the HLX22+trastuzumab+chemotherapy combination group versus the trastuzumab+chemotherapy (±pembrolizumab) control group in patients with HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers.   Participants are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the experimental group (HLX22 15mg/kg intravenous infusion + trastuzumab + chemotherapy) or the control group (placebo + trastuzumab + chemotherapy ± pembrolizumab). The primary endpoints are progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) assessed by the Independent Radiological Review Committee (IRRC) according to RECIST 1.1 (latest version), and secondary endpoints include investigator-assessed PFS, objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), quality of life, safety, immunogenicity, and pharmacokinetic characteristics.   The company stated, "With the rapid progress of this clinical trial, Henlius' stock price has also been rising recently, reflecting expectations for HLX22's clinical trial results. Industrial interest is growing as to whether it can establish itself as a new treatment option that complements the limitations of existing HER2 therapies."   They added, "Depending on the results of this Phase 3 trial, its potential for future commercialization is also drawing attention."   Furthermore, they emphasized, "HLX22's innovative approach, which precisely blocks cancer cell growth signals, has the potential to change the paradigm of cancer treatment. In particular, it can offer hope to cancer patients who have difficulty seeing results with existing treatments."   

2025-03-27 69
157

AbClon’s HLX22 Expanded Its Development from Gastric Cancer …

AbClon announced on the 26th that HLX22 shall be an innovative new drug with higher efficacy than existing standard treatments and also being developed as a treatment for breast cancer with high HER2 expression.   According to Henlius's business report published recently, HLX22 belongs to a key pipeline that shows higher efficacy than existing standard treatments. It is an antibody therapy based on AC101, which AbClon licensed out in 2016, and AbClon is eligible to receive milestones upon clinical trial stages and royalties upon commercialization.   HLX22 is an antibody that targets a specific part of the HER2 protein on cancer cells. Unlike existing antibody treatments, it affects cancer cells more appropriately and efficiently by differentiating the antigen-binding site of HER2. When it binds to HER2 along with trastuzumab (HLX02), it has shown to more effectively remove HER2 protein from the cancer cell surface, inhibiting cancer cell growth signals. The combination therapy of HLX22 and trastuzumab showed superior efficacy in gastric cancer treatment compared to the existing combination therapy of trastuzumab and pertuzumab, and showed therapeutic effects regardless of PD-L1 expression levels. In particular, severe diarrhea, which is reported as a frequent adverse event in existing first-line HER2-positive gastric cancer treatments, was not observed with HLX22, indicating positive evaluations in terms of safety.   Currently, the standard therapy for metastatic gastric cancer and gastroesophageal junction cancer is the combination therapy of trastuzumab and anticancer chemotherapy, approved in 2010. This therapy showed a progression-free survival of 6.7 months, an overall survival of 13.8 months, and a response duration of 6.9 months. In contrast, the HLX22 combination therapy demonstrated outstanding clinical efficacy, with unreached progression-free survival, overall survival, and response duration as of the 20.3-month median follow-up period.   Meanwhile, HLX22 is also being developed as a treatment for breast cancer with high HER2 expression rates, which is expected to further expand its application range. HER2-positive breast cancer accounts for approximately 15-20% of all breast cancers, with 2.3 million new cases occurred annually, and be a key market for HER2-targeted therapies along with gastric cancer. Based on such diverse treatment potential, HLX22 is expected to become a new standard in solid tumor treatment.   An AbClon official said, "Following the outstanding efficacy of HLX22 in gastric cancer treatment, HLX22 is showing potential for application in other solid tumor treatments such as breast cancer, and expected to play a crucial role in targeting HER2-positive cancers. We expect HLX22 to provide an important treatment option in more cancer treatment markets in the future."   They further emphasized, "HLX22 is innovative approach, which precisely blocks cancer cell growth signals, and has a high potential to change the paradigm of cancer treatment in the future. It can bring hope to cancer patients who do not respond to existing treatments."   

2025-03-26 64
156

AbClon HLX22 Received FDA Orphan Drug Designation During Pha…

AbClon's AC101 (HLX22) Received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for HER2-Positive Locally Advanced and Metastatic Gastric Cancer, Signaling a Green Light for Global Commercialization.   AbClon announced on the 25th that its AC101 (Henlius’s code name HLX22), an antibody therapy licensed to Henlius in 2016, has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of HER2-positive locally advanced and metastatic gastric cancer.   FDA ODD status provides various research and development support benefits, including up to 25% tax credits for R&D expenses, grant on clinical trial, exemption from FDA application fees, and eligibility for priority review and accelerated approval (Fast Track).   Furthermore, seven years of market exclusivity shall be granted on FDA orphan drug approval, enhancing commercial competitiveness. ODD is considered a significant certification that indicates innovative potential and global R&D competitiveness of a drug candidate, beyond mere regulatory advantages.   HER2-positive gastric cancer affects approximately one million new patients worldwide annually and has a poor prognosis with a 5-year survival rate of only 6% due to difficulties in early diagnosis. While the combination therapy of trastuzumab (Herceptin) and XELOX (capecitabine + oxaliplatin) is currently the standard treatments, the need for new treatment options persists due to its limited efficacy in some patients.   Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that the combination therapy of HLX22 + trastuzumab + XELOX significantly improved survival rates compared to the group treated with trastuzumab + XELOX. The 24-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 61.5% in the HLX22 group and 25% in the standard treatment group. The overall survival rate was not reached in the HLX22 group and was reported to be 22 months in the standard treatment group, indicating the superiority of HLX22 combination therapy over the existing standard treatment.   Currently, the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the HLX22-GC-301 Phase 3 clinical trial, which combines HLX22 with trastuzumab and chemotherapy, has been approved in several countries including China, the United States, Japan, and Australia. The study has commenced in multiple countries and carried out the first patient dosing. In addition to gastric cancer, research on HLX22 is being expanded to breast cancer treatment, potentially offering new treatment options to more patients.   An AbClon representative stated, "This orphan drug designation has further increased the potential for HLX22's entry into the global market and officially is recognized as an innovative therapeutic drug candidate. We will continue to focus on research and development to strengthen our competitiveness in the global market and provide effective treatment options for cancer patients."   They emphasized, "We will continue to develop innovative anticancer therapies through ongoing research and collaboration, and accomplish a significant role in the global healthcare market."  AbClon's AC101 (HLX22) Received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for HER2-Positive Locally Advanced and Metastatic Gastric Cancer, Signaling a Green Light for Global Commercialization.   AbClon announced on the 25th that its AC101 (Henlius’s code name HLX22), an antibody therapy licensed to Henlius in 2016, has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of HER2-positive locally advanced and metastatic gastric cancer.   FDA ODD status provides various research and development support benefits, including up to 25% tax credits for R&D expenses, grant on clinical trial, exemption from FDA application fees, and eligibility for priority review and accelerated approval (Fast Track).   Furthermore, seven years of market exclusivity shall be granted on FDA orphan drug approval, enhancing commercial competitiveness. ODD is considered a significant certification that indicates innovative potential and global R&D competitiveness of a drug candidate, beyond mere regulatory advantages.   HER2-positive gastric cancer affects approximately one million new patients worldwide annually and has a poor prognosis with a 5-year survival rate of only 6% due to difficulties in early diagnosis. While the combination therapy of trastuzumab (Herceptin) and XELOX (capecitabine + oxaliplatin) is currently the standard treatments, the need for new treatment options persists due to its limited efficacy in some patients.   Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that the combination therapy of HLX22 + trastuzumab + XELOX significantly improved survival rates compared to the group treated with trastuzumab + XELOX. The 24-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 61.5% in the HLX22 group and 25% in the standard treatment group. The overall survival rate was not reached in the HLX22 group and was reported to be 22 months in the standard treatment group, indicating the superiority of HLX22 combination therapy over the existing standard treatment.   Currently, the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the HLX22-GC-301 Phase 3 clinical trial, which combines HLX22 with trastuzumab and chemotherapy, has been approved in several countries including China, the United States, Japan, and Australia. The study has commenced in multiple countries and carried out the first patient dosing. In addition to gastric cancer, research on HLX22 is being expanded to breast cancer treatment, potentially offering new treatment options to more patients.   An AbClon representative stated, "This orphan drug designation has further increased the potential for HLX22's entry into the global market and officially is recognized as an innovative therapeutic drug candidate. We will continue to focus on research and development to strengthen our competitiveness in the global market and provide effective treatment options for cancer patients."   They emphasized, "We will continue to develop innovative anticancer therapies through ongoing research and collaboration, and accomplish a significant role in the global healthcare market."   

2025-03-25 63
155

AbClon Successfully Concludes First In-Person Investigator M…

AbClon announced on the 6th that Henlius successfully held a face-to-face investigator meeting for clinical research in Japan on the AC101 (code name HLX22) combination therapy, which was licensed out to Henlius.     The meeting focused on discussions regarding the global Phase 3 clinical trial (HLX22-GC-301) to evaluate the combination therapy consisting of HLX22, trastuzumab, and chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer. Over 50 oncologists and researchers from more than 20 clinical institutions in Japan attended the meeting and intensively discussing the clinical advantages of HLX22 and its development strategy in Japan.     Dr. Ken Kato of the National Cancer Center Japan stated, "This meeting was very productive, and we expect meaningful progress through collaboration among researchers." Dr. Hiroshi Imamura of Toyonaka Municipal Hospital said, "Through in-depth discussions on the clinical trial, we have increased the understanding of the research and will try to enroll the patients at our institution."     Japan belongs to countries with the highest rates of gastric cancer incidence and mortality. HER2-positive patients account for approximately 12-23% of all gastric cancer patients. Currently, the standard first-line treatment for HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer is trastuzumab combined with chemotherapy. While the addition of immunotherapy is recommended for PD-L1-positive (PD-L1 CPS ≥1) patients, there remains a need for improved long-term treatment efficacy and prognosis. In the global market, dual HER2-targeted therapies for HER2-positive gastric cancer have not yet been approved.   HLX22 is an innovative anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds to the HER2 extracellular domain IV, with a mechanism that promotes HER2 internalization and degradation by binding to a different site than trastuzumab. Clinical data have shown that adding HLX22 significantly improves survival and antitumor effects in HER2-positive gastric cancer patients, with a manageable safety profile.     The HLX22-GC-301 study is a multinational Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HLX22, trastuzumab, and chemotherapy combination therapy as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer patients. Japan is one of the key countries in this study. The meeting provided an in-depth discussion of patient characteristics, diagnostic and treatment criteria, and clinical trial protocols in Japan, which is expected to facilitate efficient study progress.     An AbClon representative stated, "Our goal is to provide better treatment options to patients worldwide through the development of innovative antibody therapeutics. We hope that the successful progress of the HLX22 clinical trial will bring new hope to HER2-positive gastric cancer patients."   They further emphasized, "We will continue to develop innovative anticancer therapeutics through ongoing research and collaboration, and play a significant role in the global healthcare market."   

2025-03-06 113
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