바이오스펙테이터

by Sungmin Kim

In the field of immuno-oncology therapeutics, CD47 is emerging as a next-generation therapeutic target of immunity gateway succeeding PD-(L)1. Different from PD-(L)1 activating T-Cells, CD47 activates macrophages, thus manifesting the potential of drugs for regulating innate immunity. Clinically, CD47 exhibits broad expandability with sole antitumor activity activity having excellent efficacy after co-administration with antibody anticancer agents or chemotherapy. In this respect, the path of ImmuneOncia, a domestic leading company of immuno-oncology agent, is significant.

Currently, two immuno-oncology agents of ImmuneOncia are at the stage of clinical development. The domestic Phase II Clinical Trial for PD-L1 antibody ‘IMC-001’ and the Phase I Clinical Trial for CD47 antibody ‘IMC-002’ in the United States are in progress. Among them, ‘CD47 Asset’ is expected to become as one of the ‘Best-in-Class’.

CEO SONG Yun Jeong of ImmuneOncia stated and introduced current situation of market as follows: “… the success of CD47 is prefigured by the leading medicine, ‘magrolimab (Hu5F9-G4)’, which is in at the stage of approval for clinical trial. However, the issue of manifestation of RBC combining with CD47 by the drug needs to be resolved …”, “… IMC-002 is the 2nd generation CD47 for which its drug-specificity and safety have been improved for unmet needs for drugs with improved drug-fastness and convenience for administration in clinics …”.

In global academic conferences, ImmuneOncia intends to present its preclinical trial data of IMC-002 at the SITC in USA this November. The company is also accelerating the development of subsequent projects. ImmuneOncia currently promotes the excavation of (confidential) project targeting new T-Cell immuno-gateway molecules. In addition, the company is developing a franchise of bispecific antibody (BsAb) based on CD47 or PD-L1 including a duplicated CD47/PD-L1 antibody to increase tumor-specificity....