The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026 is set to take place in San Diego from April 17 to 22. Leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies from South Korea are preparing to make a strong showing at this prestigious event.
Widely regarded as the world’s largest cancer research conference, AACR serves as a springboard for technology exports and global investment, while also providing a platform to showcase competitiveness. This year, Korean firms will be highlighting advanced cancer technologies, including bispecific antibodies, precision medicine, immunotherapy drugs, and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered diagnostics.
Industry sources reported on Friday that Hanmi Pharmaceutical has already captured attention by announcing nine non-clinical research results, the highest number among domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies this year.
Hanmi plans to present findings demonstrating the synergistic effects of combining an EZH1/2 dual inhibitor (HM97662) with DNA damage inducers in a SMARCA4-deficient malignant lung cancer model.
The company will also unveil research outcomes on next-generation mRNA platform-based immunotherapy drugs.
From the HLB Group, subsidiary Verismo Therapeutics will present three papers, while another subsidiary, Elevar Therapeutics, will showcase one.
Verismo’s interim results from the Phase 1 clinical trial (STAR-101) of SynKIR-110, a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for solid tumors, have been selected for oral presentation. Additionally, preclinical results for SynKIR-310, a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T therapy targeting blood cancers, have been accepted for poster presentation.
Jeil Pharmaceutical’s subsidiary, Onconic Therapeutics, will present two preclinical studies on Nesuparib, their next-generation synthetic lethal dual-target anticancer drug candidate for small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. These studies have been selected for poster presentations, with their abstracts set to be unveiled for the first time at AACR.
Samsung Biologics Expands Presence with Booth and Portfolio Showcase
In an unusual move, Samsung Biologics, a leading bio contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) in South Korea, will operate a booth at the event. The company aims to broaden its portfolio by showcasing its organoid-based drug screening service, Samsung Organoids, and contract development (CDO) services.
Other participants crossing the Pacific to present their research findings include medical AI firm Lunit, anticancer drug developer SillaJen, TC Nova Biosciences, GI Innovation, Celltrion Pharmaceutical, Samsung Bioepis, and SK Biopharmaceuticals, among various other companies.
The preclinical and early clinical results presented at AACR often catch the eye of major global pharmaceutical companies and investors, frequently leading to technology transfers or joint development agreements. This makes the event a highly anticipated opportunity for participating firms.
With global research trends in immunotherapy, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and AI-based precision diagnostics accelerating, domestic companies are leveraging AACR as a crucial platform to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving field.
An industry insider commented that AACR provides a valuable opportunity for K-Bio companies to share their ongoing research pipeline outcomes. Companies that integrate cutting-edge technologies such as AI, bioinformatics, and omics into their research are likely to garner more attention at the event.