Handok-Genexine-ToolGen, Joint Development of Next-Generation Anticancer Cell Therapy

Handok, Genexine, and ToolGen held a signing ceremony on the 13th at Genexine Bio Innovation Park in Magok District, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, announcing the conclusion of a contract for joint research and development of next-generation anticancer cell therapy-based new drugs.

Hong Seong-jun, CEO of Genexine, Kim Young-jin, Chairman of Handok, and Lee Byung-hwa, CEO of ToolGen (from left), are posing for a commemorative photo at the joint research and development contract signing ceremony.
[Photo by Handok]

Through this agreement, the three companies plan to discover next-generation innate immune cell therapy candidate substances, establish production technologies and processes, and develop them into clinical stages based on research results. Additionally, at each development stage, they will engage in close research collaboration to identify candidate genes suitable for immune cell activation, optimize gene editing, develop cell therapy processes, and conduct preclinical analyses, thereby cooperating comprehensively.

Currently, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies, which have demonstrated outstanding efficacy in certain hematologic cancers, are acquired immune cells that target specific antigens to induce immune responses, which poses certain issues. Despite showing good response rates in specific hematologic cancers, their anticancer efficacy in solid tumors remains very low. Through this research, the three companies aim to develop innate immune cell-based therapies that can overcome the limitations of existing acquired immune cell-based treatments.

Kim Young-jin, Chairman of Handok, stated, “This collaboration is significant in that it combines Handok’s bioanalysis and clinical expertise, Genexine’s bio-manufacturing and cell culture technologies, and ToolGen’s gene editing technology to develop globally competitive new drugs.” He added, “Through enhanced research capabilities, we will successfully develop cell therapies targeting solid tumors and gradually expand into other fields.”