Dongkook Pharmaceutical and Shaperon Sign Joint Research Agreement for New Drug Development for Inflammatory Diseases

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwanju] Dongkook Pharmaceutical announced on the 22nd that it has signed a business agreement with the immuno-drug development bio company Shaperon to conduct joint research for the development of new drugs for inflammatory diseases.

Based on Shaperon's basic scientific capabilities in immune-mediated inflammation and Dongkook Pharmaceutical's product development capabilities, the two companies plan to jointly research and develop a new drug candidate that doubly inhibits the inflammasome for the first time in the world.

Shaperon's inflammasome inhibitor comprehensively suppresses inflammatory signaling molecules and cytokines not only in the inflammatory activation stage but also in the initiation stage of inflammation. It is a new drug candidate for intractable inflammatory diseases being developed to replace the currently most effective anti-inflammatory steroid drugs and the representative anti-inflammatory JAK inhibitors (non-steroidal drugs).

Shaperon is currently conducting clinical trials for 'Nusepin', a pneumonia treatment for COVID-19 virus, 'Nugel', an atopic dermatitis treatment, and 'Nuserin', an Alzheimer's dementia treatment.

Seong Seung-yong, CEO of Shaperon, said, "We are pleased that the value of Shaperon's proprietary inflammasome inhibitor technology has been recognized," and added, "We expect great synergy effects through research cooperation with Dongkook Pharmaceutical, which has excellent product development capabilities."

Song Junho, CEO of Dongkook Pharmaceutical, said, "We plan to secure Dongkook Pharmaceutical's portfolio of inflammatory disease treatments through cooperation with the excellent bio company Shaperon," and emphasized, "We will become a total healthcare company that secures new drug candidates and advanced technologies through more active open innovation in the future."