Korean biopharma companies will attend BIO-EUROPE 2023, the last technology trade event of the year, to finalize technology transfer discussions for the year.

BIO-EUROPE is the largest pharma and biotech conference in Europe, where leading global biopharma companies and investors share the latest therapeutic technologies and R&D information, seeking to attract various partnerships and investments.

BIO Europe is held twice a year, in spring and fall, and the spring event was held in March at Messe Basel, Switzerland. The autumnal event is held in Munich, Germany, from Monday to Wednesday. It is expected to attract more than 2,075 companies from 64 countries.

According to the BIO-EUROPE Secretariat, 178 Korean companies are participating in the event, followed by Germany (313), the United States (310), and the United Kingdom (222). This is more than China (86) and Japan (78) combined.

Korean companies that have announced plans to attend this year's event include ABL Bio, Y-Biologics, Bridge Biotherapeutics, Pharos iBio, OliX Pharmaceuticals, Angio Lab, Gradiant Bioconvergence, and Dt&C Bio Group.

ABL Bio will share interim results from its recently announced phase 1 clinical trials of ABL111 (TJ-CD4B) and ABL503 (TJ-L14B) for global Big Pharma companies. In addition, the company plans to introduce its blood-brain barrier (BBB) shuttle platform, Grabody-B.

Y-Biologics will discuss the technology transfer potential of acricsolimab (YBL-006). Acricsolimab is a PD-1 antibody-based immuno-oncology drug candidate discovered by Y-Biologics with its technology. After conducting a phase 1/2a study in three countries -- Korea, Australia, and Thailand -- the company received a clinical trial result report (CSR) in July.

Y-Biologics will also discuss its early-stage pipeline, including YBL-004, with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. YBL-004 is a dual antibody drug candidate that simultaneously inhibits the activity of TNF-α and interleukin-17 (IL-17), two cytokines that cause inflammation, and was selected for support by the Korea Drug Development Foundation (KDDF) in 2017.

OliX will focus on licensing out the Asian rights to OLX301A for dry and wet age-related macular degeneration and OLX702A for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and obesity. It will also pursue partnerships for joint R&D of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics.

Bridge Biotherapeutics CEO Lee Jung-kyu said, "We look forward to actively communicating our achievements in R&D, identifying the needs of our global partners, and strengthening our network in lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis, the two disease areas we focus on."

Besides, many companies participate in the event through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute's “BIO-EUROPE Participation Support Project.” The selected companies are HLB Life Science, Nexel, NEX-I, Dr. Noah Biotech, Rudacure, MEDI-PIK, Brexogen, VS Pharm Tech, Vivozon, Aulbio, Idience (R&D subsidiary of Ildong Holdings), Eyebio Korea, Rznomics, Uppthera, SB BioScience, HLB, HLB Cell, NA Vaccine Institute, MD Healthcare, Autotelic Bio, Innovo Therapeutics, Isu Abxis, Intron Bio, YiPSCELL, Genome & Company, G2G Bio, ZTi Biosciences, CasCure Therapeutics, Coastem Chemon, Quratis, Ticaros, PeLeMed, Posvax, ProAbTech, Pinot Bio, Pin Therapeutics, Han Wha Pharma, and Huons.

Genome & Company aims to visualize the outcome of its technology transfer agreement discussions for its novel targeted cancer drugs GENA-104 and GENA-111. The company explained that it is discussing specific agreements with global pharmaceutical companies.

In the case of HLB Group, HLB and its U.S. subsidiaries Elevar, HLB Pharma, and HLB Cell will be represented at the event. HLB will continue discussions with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharma on expanding indications for Rivoceranib as a preoperative neoadjuvant for liver cancer.

HLB Pharma announced that it has initiated out-licensing discussions with a global big pharma for its long-acting injectable platform, SMEB. HLB Pharma is conducting phase 1 clinical trials of HP-P024, a long-acting injectable candidate for thrombosis treatment Eliquis (apixaban). HLB Cell will hold a meeting to license its hemostatic drug, HLBLS-200, and human normal cell-derived extracellular matrix, Yutri Gel.

In addition, the Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT) set up a “K-BIO Joint Promotion Center. The institute is the lead organization for the bio-health sector of the Innovation Field Startup Package (fostering new industry startups) of the “Super Gap Startup 1000+” project supported by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. On Monday, the first day of the event, the K-BIO Presentation event was held with the participation of European venture capitals and accelerators.

YiPSCELL, a developer of osteoarthritis cell therapy based on induced pluripotent stem cell lines, will promote technology transfer to local European companies. NEX-I will introduce its technology for treating intractable cancers refractory to existing anti-cancer drugs. Quratis will promote its vaccine contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) business model and its drug candidates, including a vaccine for adolescent tuberculosis.

"Korean companies with ‘hyper-gap’ technology are gaining attention in the U.S. and European markets for their technological innovation, growth potential, and challenging spirit," a KIT official said. "If these ‘hyper-gap’ companies' capabilities shine on the global business stage, it is possible to create real results of global blockbusters."