[JPM2025] ‘Key pipeline clinical results will provide a turning point for TiumBio this year’

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- By Kim Chan-hyuk/Korea Biomedical Review correspondent -- “The results of the Merigolix (TU2670) phase 2 uterine fibroids trial and the phase 2 Keytruda combination results of TU2218 will be the most important turning points of the year, as we look forward to concrete confirmation of the potential success of both pipelines.”

TiumBio CEO Kim Hun-taek took the opportunity to say so on Tuesday (local time) at the 43rd J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM 2025).

“The main purpose of our participation in this conference is to continue discussions with existing partners,” Kim said. “We also want to identify new partners and major trend changes in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.”

Asked about the priorities for technology transfer in the pipeline, Kim said, “Merigolix (TU2670), which has shown proof of concept (PoC) through phase 2a clinical trials, is the most important."

It's just a matter of where and with which partner, Kim added.

The response from partners has been positive. Some prefer 100 percent licensing, while others are exploring the possibility of co-development. The company has already signed a technology transfer agreement with Hansoh Pharmaceutical for the Chinese market, so discussions are centered on the U.S. and European markets.

“Since it is a gynecological disease, we prefer a company with sales and marketing power and the ability to handle licensing,” Kim said, explaining the criteria for selecting a partner. “We are interested in large pharmaceutical companies that are influential in Europe, the United States, and Latin America.”

March and April of this year will likely be pivotal times for Merigolix.

“The announcement of Daewon Pharmaceutical's phase 2 results in uterine fibroids will be an important turning point,” Kim said. “We had data in endometriosis but none in uterine fibroids. Once we have clinical results in both indications, we will further refine the potential for development success.”

TU2218, an oral immuno-oncology candidate, is also on track to reach a key milestone in the third quarter of this year.

“Results from our phase 2 study of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in combination with TU2218 are expected in the third quarter of this year, and we plan to present the results at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in the fall,” Kim said. “The key will be determining whether it increases the effectiveness of Keytruda, particularly in rectal cancer.”

The hemophilia drug candidate TU7710 has entered phase 1b in European patients. “The companies that can develop and commercialize it well are the ones that are focused on blood products,” Kim said. “We will focus on partnering at the BioUSA convention in June.”

The company is currently focusing on data enrichment for its newest drug candidate, NBX005, an antibody for respiratory disease.

“Sanofi acquired a competing drug for 1.2 trillion won ($823 million),” Kim said. “We are making comparative data with this substance. We have secured results in animal models and plan to discuss it actively at BioUSA with more data.”

He noted that ThiumBio's mid- to long-term goal is to license a new drug.

“It will be a historic event if the new drug approval of the substance under development is granted around 2028-2029,” Kim said, emphasizing that it is important to continue developing new drugs through stable management until then.

“Global pharmaceutical companies are entering a new stretching phase after years of restructuring,” Kim said, providing his outlook for the biotech industry this year. “There will be opportunities for companies with early-stage drug candidates, and investment in biotech growth is expected to increase at a time of lower interest rates.”

“However, it is difficult to expect a boom like we saw in 2020-2021,” he said, “What’s important is that individual companies weather the crisis well and become stronger.”