LigaChem Biosciences said it has signed an expanded memorandum of understanding (MOU) with WuXi XDC to accelerate the development of next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). This agreement broadens their 2021 partnership, which initially focused on clinical sample production, to now include joint research and development efforts.

The collaboration aims to enhance LigaChem Bio’s ADC pipeline by leveraging WuXi XDC’s research personnel and development systems, significantly reducing the time required to identify promising drug candidates.

This initiative aligns with LigaChem Bio’s "VISION 2030" strategy, which targets the annual discovery of approximately five new drug candidates through internal research and partnerships with Korean and international contract research organizations (CROs).

"We are delighted to strengthen our long-standing partnership with WuXi XDC," LigaChem Biosciences CEO Kim Yong-zu said. "By expanding our collaboration, we anticipate cutting the development candidate discovery period, which traditionally takes over three years, by more than a year.”

As competition in the ADC sector intensifies, securing a robust clinical pipeline is crucial, and the company is committed to accelerating its development efforts, Kim added.

WuXi XDC CEO Jimmy Li also said, "This expanded collaboration will further solidify the long-standing relationship between our two companies.”

WuXi XDC is committed to providing one-stop solutions spanning research, development, and manufacturing to ensure LigaChem Bio’s next-generation ADC candidates reach the clinical stage swiftly, Li added.