GC Green Cross Exercises Option for Bispecific Antibody ADC Drug Development with Cana Therapeutics

Full-Scale Development of Bispecific Antibody ADC Targeting EGFR and cMET

GC Green Cross announced on the 18th that it exercised its option on the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology based on bispecific antibodies owned by Cana Therapeutics on the 17th. This decision marks an expansion of the joint development agreement signed by the two companies in November last year and is seen as a significant milestone, advancing the preclinical pipeline into the development stage.

A view of the GC Green Cross headquarters in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. GC Green Cross

The two companies plan to jointly research and develop a bispecific antibody ADC that simultaneously targets EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and cMET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) for patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer who have developed resistance to existing therapies.

Patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer often develop drug resistance within one to two years after treatment with standard EGFR inhibitors. The main causes of this resistance are identified as cMET overexpression and EGFR resistance mutations. By simultaneously targeting both of these factors, the companies aim to provide a new treatment alternative for patients with resistance. In addition, since EGFR and cMET are overexpressed in various cancer types, they are also considering expanding indications beyond non-small cell lung cancer in the future.

The company explained that the decision to exercise the option was based on trust in Cana Therapeutics' research achievements to date. Since the joint development agreement in November last year, Cana Therapeutics has conducted preclinical studies and optimized candidate substances. Going forward, the two companies will jointly carry out preclinical development, Cana Therapeutics will lead CMC (chemistry, manufacturing, and controls) development, and GC Green Cross will be responsible for the clinical stage.

Cana Therapeutics is expanding its pipeline based on its ADC platform technology co-developed with Lotte Biologics, and stated that this agreement with GC Green Cross is a recognition of Cana Therapeutics' competitiveness and growth potential in ADC technology.

Lee Byungchul, CEO of Cana Therapeutics, said, "GC Green Cross's exercise of the option reflects strong trust in our technology and the value of our research achievements. With this partnership, our pipeline has made a significant leap forward, and we will continue to expand strategic partnerships to lead global anticancer drug development."

Jung Jaeuk, Head of R&D at GC Green Cross, stated, "GC Green Cross is continuously investing in the field of oncology and immunology therapeutics, and this option exercise is part of that strategy. We aim to achieve innovative new drug development by leveraging the capabilities of both companies."