[Featured Stock] AndyForce, Preclinical Expectations for Kidney Cancer Treatment Using Cancer Cell Apoptosis Response

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] AndyForce is showing strong performance. The expectations for the bio business being conducted through its subsidiary CureBio seem to have influenced the stock price.

As of 11:46 AM on the 9th, AndyForce is trading at 4,405 KRW, up 6.14% from the previous day.

AndyForce acquired CureBio, founded by Professor Kim Seong-hoon of Seoul National University College of Pharmacy, who leads the Biocon (Biomedical Bio Convergence Research Group), in December 2018. CureBio is the first company in Asia to develop ARS-based peptide new drugs. It is conducting various studies utilizing the new function of ARS, previously known only as a protein synthesis enzyme, as a mechanism for treating diseases within the body.

Kim Sang-pyo, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, stated, "The CureBio research team has identified intracellular reactions of 23 types of ARS enzymes beyond protein synthesis," adding, "It is encouraging that all 23 can be used as new drug target substances."

He continued, "The pipeline with the fastest development progress is a kidney cancer treatment drug scheduled for preclinical trials in the first quarter of this year and a hair loss treatment drug undergoing preclinical trials until May this year."

Researcher Kim analyzed, "The kidney cancer treatment drug (NeopepGT) has completed the lead compound optimization process," and "It is expected to enter preclinical trials around February this year."

He added, "GRS can be applied as targeted therapies not only for kidney cancer but also for ovarian and liver cancers," and "The hair loss treatment drug (Neopep A1), being developed as a topical agent, started preclinical trials in Germany and the United States from November last year."

Researcher Kim explained, "Both CureBio's ARS and NeoTX's STR are the latest immuno-oncology technologies," and "They are platforms that have not yet been fully commercialized." He further stated, "While STR kills cancer cells by amplifying and attracting T cells, ARS is a peptide drug that mimics tumor suppressors secreted by macrophages."

He expected, "When the two platforms are combined, the antigen fragment exposure response through tumor cell recognition and death by ARS peptides will dramatically amplify the T cell immune response of STR," adding, "The fusion of ARS and STR will show excellent tumor cell killing ability as it responds to both tumor cell targeting and death."