Aiming to Address Unmet Medical Needs in Ovarian Cancer Maintenance Therapy
Onconic Therapeutics and Celltrion are joining forces to develop a new global anticancer drug.
Kim John, CEO of Onconic Therapeutics (left), and Kwon Kisung, Senior Vice President of Celltrion (right), are posing for a commemorative photo on the 11th at Celltrion headquarters in Incheon after signing a joint research and development agreement on the combination therapy of Nesuparip and Vegzelma®. Onconic Therapeutics
On June 12, Onconic Therapeutics announced that it has signed a joint research and development agreement for the combination therapy of its next-generation dual-mechanism synthetic lethal anticancer drug candidate, Nesuparip, and Celltrion's anticancer biosimilar, Vegzelma®.
This joint research and development project aims to address the high level of unmet medical needs in the field of ovarian cancer maintenance therapy. Through this collaboration, the two companies plan to accelerate the development of a global blockbuster anticancer treatment option. However, specific terms of the agreement will not be disclosed in accordance with mutual non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
Nesuparip, developed by Onconic Therapeutics, is a next-generation dual-mechanism synthetic lethal anticancer drug candidate that simultaneously inhibits PARP (an enzyme involved in DNA damage repair in cancer cells) and Tankyrase (which affects cancer growth and progression). It has demonstrated significant anticancer effects in both monotherapy and combination clinical trials across various indications, including pancreatic cancer, endometrial cancer, and gastric cancer, and has received two orphan drug designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Vegzelma®, Celltrion's treatment for metastatic colorectal and breast cancer, which will be co-administered as a new treatment option, is an antibody biosimilar that inhibits the action of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to suppress tumor angiogenesis and growth. It has ranked first in prescriptions among bevacizumab-based anticancer drugs in Europe and has received marketing approval from global regulatory agencies, including the U.S. FDA.
A representative from Onconic Therapeutics stated, "The partnership with Celltrion is not only very encouraging for the global development of the innovative new drug Nesuparip, but could also serve as a model case for the creation of a domestically developed blockbuster anticancer drug. Through this joint research, we aim to create an opportunity to offer a new treatment option in the unmet area of ovarian cancer maintenance therapy."
A Celltrion representative said, "This joint research and development project for Nesuparip is highly significant for Celltrion as well, and we will do our utmost to achieve successful results."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
