Y-Biologics, an antibody drug discovery platform company, said Wednesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with LigaChem Biosciences for strategic collaboration in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

Through the MOU, the two companies will further strengthen their joint research and development of ADCs and solidify their position in the global biopharmaceutical market, according to Y-Biologics.

ADC is an anticancer technology that combines antibodies and drugs with a linker to target cancer cells at the desired site precisely. It is attracting attention as a next-generation anticancer drug with high efficacy and low drug toxicity.

The two companies plan to collaborate in various fields, including joint research and development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for two new targets, joint research and development of pH-sensitive antibody-based antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), joint research and development of double antibody-based antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and joint research and development of single or double antibody-based antibody-immunomodulatory drug conjugates.

The collaboration builds on the ongoing collaboration and innovation between Korea's leading antibody developer and a global ADC therapeutics developer that began in 2016, Y-Biologics said. The two companies have jointly developed YBL-001 (LCB67), an ADC anticancer candidate targeting DLK1, and successfully exported the technology to Pyxis Oncology in the U.S. in 2020. Through this partnership, the two companies will accelerate the development of more innovative ADCs, Y-Biologics added.

Y-Biologics is an antibody drug discovery platform company with eight pipelines, including Ymax-ABL, a fully human antibody library, Ymax-ENGENE, an antibody engineering technology, ALiCE, a T-cell bispecific antibody platform, and acrixolimab (YBL-006), an immuno-oncology drug candidate based on PD-1 antibodies.

Y-Biologics is accelerating its ADC development through collaborations with several companies. In April, it signed a three-way MOU with Korea United Pharm and UNS Bio to develop new ADC anticancer drugs.

“We are pleased to continue our strategic collaboration with LigaChem Biosciences,” Y-Biologics Co-CEO Park Young-woo said. “We will do our best to develop new ADC therapeutics with global competitiveness jointly.”

LigaChem Biosciences CEO Kim Yong-zu said, “Through this agreement, we will strengthen our strategic partnership with Y-Biologics and create opportunities for mutual growth through close collaboration.”