Qurient is expanding its Dual Payload antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology platform, which combines two distinct anti-cancer agents with a single antibody.
The company announced on Monday that it has filed an international patent (PCT) for its dual payload ADC platform technology. This move aims to broaden Qurient’s intellectual property rights beyond the existing candidate QP101, allowing the technology to be applied to various targeted antibodies and strengthening its global commercialization potential.
ADCs are innovative cancer treatments that use antibodies to deliver potent anti-cancer agents directly to tumor cells. The dual payload ADC takes this concept further by incorporating two different types of anti-cancer agents, each with unique mechanisms of action, to attack cancer cells more effectively.
In the previous year, Qurient developed QP101, a dual payload ADC targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and filed a patent for this specific candidate. The new patent application expands on this, allowing the design to be applied to a broader range of targeted antibodies.
QP101, Qurient’s in-house developed next-generation ADC candidate, is unique in its approach of combining two payloads with distinct mechanisms of action into a single HER2-targeting antibody. This strategy aims to address the challenges of tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance by attacking cancer cells through multiple pathways, recognizing that cancer cells within tumors can have diverse characteristics.
Building on the success of QP101, Qurient is now expanding its design technology into a versatile platform applicable to various antibodies, rather than limiting it to specific targets. This strategic move allows the company to pursue dual objectives: developing its own pipeline of candidates while also offering technology transfers to global pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
Nam Ki-yeon, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qurient, commented on the significance of this patent application: This filing marks a crucial step in transforming the dual payload ADC technology, refined during the development of QP101, into a global platform business. It’s now positioned to forge stronger partnerships with global players in the field. The goal is to create a synergistic business model where the in-house pipeline development and platform technology transfers can flourish side by side.
