LG Chem has signed a technology transfer agreement with Peptron to tap into the market for prostate cancer and precocious puberty treatment.

Peptron said in a public filing last Friday that it signed a contract with LG Chem for the domestic distribution rights of its prostate cancer and sexual precocity treatment candidate, Leupone (PT105 in development name). The contract period is until Dec. 31, 2034. The upfront payment was not disclosed.

Leupone is a one-month long-acting, sustained-release leuprorelin (leuprolide) formulation developed by Peptron. Leuprorelin is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist indicated for treating endometriosis, shrinkage of the myomatous core, and improvement of symptoms in uterine fibroids associated with oligomenorrhea, lower abdominal pain, back pain, and anemia; prostate cancer; premenopausal breast cancer; and central precocious puberty.

Currently, leuprorelin preparations licensed in Korea include the original drug Leuplin of Takeda Korea, as well as HanAll Biopharma's Eligard, Daewoong Pharmaceutical's Luphere Depot, and Dongkook Pharmaceutical's Lorelin injection and Lorelin Depot. Peptron estimates the domestic leuprorelin market to be around 80 billion won ($60.4 million).

In particular, Leupone is the first commercialized product developed and produced by Peptron with its smart depot technology. In the past, Peptron developed the leuprorelin drug Luphere Depot by signing a technology transfer and raw material supply agreement with Daewoong Pharmaceutical. LG Chem also sold and marketed Dongkuk Pharm’s Lorelin Depot injection for pediatrics.

"We have yet to obtain PT105 domestic approval. It is the same mechanism as the technology transfer with Daewoong Pharmaceutical, but it is a more advanced drug,” a Petron official said. "As a manufacturer, we can generate stable sales and operating income."