LucasBio picked for state R&D project to develop pediatric BK virus treatment

LucasBio, a Korean biotech specializing in virus immunotherapy, said it has been selected for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's national R&D project under the "Pediatric Disease Conquest R&D – Pediatric Clinical Trial Support" program, in collaboration with Samsung Medical Center.

The selected project aims to develop LB-DTK-BKV, a virus-specific memory T-cell therapy targeting refractory BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis in pediatric and adolescent patients following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

The LB-DTK platform enables the production of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) targeting multiple viral antigens simultaneously by utilizing peripheral blood.

BK virus reactivation commonly occurs in immunocompromised patients after HSCT, causing hemorrhagic cystitis, for which no effective treatment currently exists.

This study is the first clinical research in Korea using memory T-cell-based immunotherapy to target the condition, the company said.

LB-DTK-BKV is based on LucasBio’s proprietary LB-DTK platform and utilizes blood from stem cell donors or the patients' parents to manufacture therapeutic cells for infusion. The therapy highlights a "life-sharing treatment model," in which family members become key participants in the patient’s care.

"Children suffering from BK virus infection often endure severe pain, hemorrhage, obstruction, bladder rupture, shock, and other life-threatening complications, yet treatment options remain limited to symptomatic care such as opioid analgesics and bladder irrigation," said LucasBio CEO Cho Seok-goo. "We are committed to developing an innovative therapy based on our LB-DTK platform to help overcome BK virus infections."