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(Seoul=Yonhap Infomax) Pil Joong Jeong = Samsung announced on the 25th that it will invest in China-based Phrontline Biopharma through its Life Science Fund, established to foster new technologies and business development in the biotechnology sector.
Samsung is targeting next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) cancer therapies by investing in Phrontline, which specializes in bispecific and dual-payload ADC platforms. The company aims to identify promising future businesses and actively seek collaboration opportunities to strengthen core research in the ADC field.
ADC technology is one of the fastest-growing oncology modalities globally, utilized in research for both cancer and autoimmune disease treatments.
Phrontline’s bispecific antibody and dual-payload platform enhances payload delivery efficiency, enabling the simultaneous delivery of two complementary payloads. This approach addresses the limitations of single-payload or single-target ADCs, such as resistance, vulnerability to tumor heterogeneity, and insufficient response durability.
Phrontline is currently conducting global clinical trials for its bispecific antibody ADCs. Additional clinical entries for ADCs utilizing both bispecific and dual-payload technologies are scheduled for the first quarter of next year.
In October, Samsung Bioepis signed a joint research partnership agreement with Phrontline for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of ADC candidates. Through this partnership, Samsung Bioepis secured joint development rights for two pipeline assets owned by Phrontline and obtained an exclusive license to apply one payload to other Samsung Bioepis development products.
Seo Min-jeong, Head of Search at Samsung Bioepis (Executive Director), stated, “Following our partnership with Phrontline, this investment will further strengthen our technological influence in the global ADC market. We will continue to enhance our preparedness for future technologies through diverse partnerships and investments.”
The Samsung Life Science Fund is a venture investment fund jointly established by Samsung C&T, Samsung Biologics, and Samsung Bioepis, and is managed by Samsung Venture Investment. The fund has invested across a range of fields, from gene therapies to ADCs and blood protein analysis technologies.
joongjp@yna.co.kr
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