Hanmi Pharm, MEDiC Life Sciences to co-develop new biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of cancer drugs
Hanmi Pharm is accelerating its cancer drug research and development efforts by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with MEDiC Life Sciences, a Silicon Valley-based genome screening platform developer, to develop new biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs.
MEDiC Life Sciences, a startup established through the Illumina Accelerator, was founded by CEO Han Kyu-ho and CTO Lee Hong-pyo, both graduates of Stanford University.
The company collaborates on cancer drug development with global pharmaceutical giants such as Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS).
Under the accord, MEDiC will utilize its CRISPR genome editing technology to identify and propose new biomarker candidates related to the efficacy and resistance of cancer drugs. Hanmi Pharm will then use these biomarkers to advance clinical development of new drugs.
Biomarkers, which utilize cells, blood vessels, proteins, DNA, and other indicators within the body, play a crucial role in predicting and diagnosing diseases, as well as evaluating treatment responses.
In drug development, they are particularly valuable for predicting patient responses to medications, thereby improving the success rates of clinical trials. PD-L1, for instance, is a well-known biomarker used in immuno-oncology.
The joint research will utilize MEDiC's CRISPR-based cancer gene discovery platform, MCATT. This platform enhances the success rate of cancer drug development by identifying biomarkers using CRISPR gene editing and 3D tumor modeling.
MCATT can explore thousands of biomarker candidates across various cancer models, distinguishing itself from other platforms by directly proving the causal relationship between biomarkers and treatment responses.
"We hope that MEDiC's differentiated biomarker discovery technology, validated through collaborations with global pharmaceutical companies like BMS, will lead to the successful development of new anti-cancer drugs in collaboration with Hanmi Pharm, a leader in Korea’s cancer drug development scene" MEDiC Life Sciences CEO Han said.
Hanmi Pharm CEO Park Jae-hyun also said, “Hanmi has achieved meaningful results in the clinical development of innovative cancer drugs, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and bispecific antibodies.”
Through this MOU with MEDiC, which possesses excellent biomarker technology, Hanmi expects to strengthen its cancer drug research capabilities and improve the success rates of clinical trials, Park added.