LegoChem Biosciences said that it has signed a collaboration and option license agreement with Cellectar Biosciences, a U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company, in developing a PDC (phospholipid drug conjugates)-based anticancer treatment.

Under the accord, the two companies will discover PDC candidates using Cellectar's PLE (Phospholipid Ether) source technology and LegoChem's ADC (antibody-drug conjugate) linker-toxin platform technology.

If the two companies derive a candidate material through joint R&D, Cellectar can exercise its global development rights and technology transfer option for commercialization.

LegoChem said that it would not disclose the precise terms of the contract before the option exercise.

According to LegoChem, Cellectar is researching and developing PDC anticancer drugs using its proprietary PLE (Phospholipid Ether) drug delivery platform technology.

"It is a company that has a clinical-stage pipeline for various types of cancer, including blood and solid cancers," LegoChem said. "PLE, an essential element for the rapid growth of cancer cells, shows improved cancer cell-specific drug delivery potential compared to antibodies.”

Also, its delivery to normal cells is very low, minimizing side effects caused by drugs, the Korean company added.

"By combining the advantages of LegoChem's ADC linker-toxin platform technology and Cellectar's unique cancer-specific drug delivery PLE technology, it will be possible to develop more differentiated PDC anticancer drugs," Cellectar CEO James Caruso said.

LegoChem President Kim Yong-zu also said, "Our company announced that it would promote the various strategies that combine ADC technology with new drug delivery platform technology other than antibodies."

By cooperating with Cellectar, which developed the world's first PDC treatment and is leading the market, LegoChem will quickly identify candidate materials and become a leading company in this field, Kim added.