AbClon, a leading South Korean biotech company, has announced the first official step into the overseas market with its innovative CAR-T cell therapy, AT101.

On 4th April, the company revealed that it had finalized a license agreement with TCT Health Technology (TCT), a Turkish company, in Istanbul on March 28th (local time).

This agreement marks AbClon's entry into the Turkish hematologic cancer treatment market and lays the foundation for expanding its presence in Europe and the Middle East.

The signing ceremony was attended by key figures from AbClon, TCT, and a range of Turkish health and medical industry organizations. Global life science company, Cytiva also participated as a partner to TCT. The Turkish Ministry of Health and Health Institute are committed to their full support for the clinical trials and rapid market entry of AT101. Cytiva will be responsible for the manufacturing process, aiming to enable Turkish patients to receive treatment with locally manufactured AT101 as soon as possible.

TCT will bear all commercialization costs, including clinical trials and production for AT101 in Turkey. AbClon will receive an upfront payment and royalties based on net sales.

AT101 is a CD-19 CAR-T cell therapy developed using AbClon's proprietary NEST technology platform. It features a differentiated antibody (1218) that has demonstrated high efficacy and safety, positioning it as a strong competitor in the global market. Currently, AT101 is undergoing Phase 2 clinical trials in South Korea, with plans to apply for conditional accelerated approval in the first half of this year. The Phase 1 trials showed remarkable treatment responses in over 90% of patients, garnering attention through presentations at international conferences and publications in prestigious journals.

In Turkey, approximately 10,000 patients die from hematologic cancers annually, indicating a substantial patient population that could benefit from AT101. Turkey's strategic location as a medical hub connecting Europe and the Middle East, along with the increasing number of patients from Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE seeking medical services, is expected to positively impact AT101's adoption in the region. AbClon plans to establish CAR-T treatment centers in major Turkish hospitals and provide medical staff support to maximize patient treatment outcomes.

An AbClon representative stated, "We will work closely with the TCT to ensure the swift approval and commercialization of AT101. This collaboration is a significant first step in demonstrating AbClon's technology and competitiveness in the global CAR-T market."

The agreement is expected to provide innovative treatment options for hematologic cancer patients in Turkey and the Middle East. AbClon will continue to pursue overseas market expansion through technology transfer agreements with global pharmaceutical companies and direct market entry strategies.