Chaperone is showing strong performance. Following the news that NIBEC succeeded in a global technology transfer of its peptide-based fibrosis treatment worth 600 billion KRW, interest in small- and mid-sized new drug developers has been increasing. Chaperone is currently in discussions with global pharmaceutical companies regarding the technology transfer of its next-generation atopic dermatitis treatment, NuGel. In March, substantial progress was made in talks with some major pharmaceutical companies, raising expectations that Chaperone could achieve a success story similar to that of NIBEC.
As of 9:42 a.m. on May 30, Chaperone was trading at 3,645 KRW, up 12.5% from the previous day. Its market capitalization has surpassed 110 billion KRW.
Chaperone recently published the results of its domestic Phase 2a clinical trial for the next-generation atopic dermatitis treatment, NuGel, in "Frontiers in Immunology" (impact factor 5.7). Through this publication, Chaperone demonstrated the clinical efficacy of NuGel, a topical treatment based on a novel mechanism of action. The company also presented, for the first time in the world, the potential for precision medicine-based personalized treatment by using blood biomarkers to predict treatment response.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by severe itching and recurrent eczema. It is common, affecting 10-20% of the global population, but is difficult to treat due to its diverse genetic and environmental causes. Existing treatments such as steroids and immunosuppressants carry significant risks of side effects with long-term use. Even some recently approved new drugs are sold with warnings about potential carcinogenicity, raising safety concerns.
NuGel is a novel topical agent that stimulates the GPCR19 receptor found in skin cells and innate immune cells, thereby regulating the inflammasome, a key factor in inflammatory diseases. Unlike existing drugs, NuGel does not directly suppress all T lymphocytes, resulting in a lower risk of carcinogenicity and higher safety during long-term use. While safety was already confirmed in animal studies and Phase 1 clinical trials, the recent Phase 2a trial evaluated both efficacy and safety in actual patients.
A company representative stated, "In the United States, we are conducting FDA Phase 2b Part 2 trials with approximately 180 patients, using a higher dose and extending the treatment period to eight weeks compared to the domestic Phase 2a trial." The representative added, "In the results of Phase 2b Part 1 announced in January, we observed more than a 50% improvement in clinical symptoms in 100% of a specific patient group."
Chaperone began full-scale discussions on the technology transfer of NuGel with global pharmaceutical companies at "BIO-Europe Spring 2025" held in Europe in March. During BIO-Europe, the company held partnering meetings with a total of 27 companies, including major global pharmaceutical firms and leading companies in the dermatology sector. Large European pharmaceutical companies showed significant interest not only in NuGel but also in Chaperone's major pipeline candidates, such as its preclinical alopecia areata treatment and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment. Several global pharmaceutical companies have requested due diligence on NuGel's technical data, moving beyond the stage of signing confidentiality agreements. The recent successful completion of NuGel's Phase 2b Part 1 trial in the United States has received positive evaluations from many pharmaceutical firms, resulting in a substantial increase in interest compared to the past.
According to market research firm Facts&Factors, the global atopic dermatitis treatment market is projected to grow from $14.26 billion in 2023 to $29.15 billion by 2032.
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