Qurient is ramping up the global commercialization of its innovative dual payload antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform. This cutting-edge technology was developed in partnership with Lonza, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and Qurient’s largest shareholder.
On Thursday, Qurient revealed that Lonza showcased their jointly commercialized dual payload ADC platform, dubbed SYN-duo CC, at the prestigious ELRIG Drug Development Conference 2026 in London.
This presentation follows Lonza’s initial unveiling of the technology at the World ADC 2026 conference in San Diego. Both companies are actively promoting their groundbreaking platform at major drug development events across North America and Europe, aiming to attract global pharmaceutical clients.
The SYN-duo CC platform ingeniously combines Qurient’s cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) inhibitor with Lonza’s topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) inhibitor, Exatecan, leveraging dual payload ADC technology.
ADCs are sophisticated therapies that use antibodies to deliver anticancer drugs directly to cancer cells. The dual payload ADC design takes this concept further by incorporating two distinct types of drugs with different mechanisms of action into a single antibody.
While conventional ADCs typically attach a single drug component to an antibody, dual payload ADCs are engineered to deliver multiple drugs with diverse mechanisms simultaneously. This approach aims to enhance anticancer efficacy and potentially overcome drug resistance.
CDK7, a protein crucial in regulating gene expression and cell cycle, has emerged as a promising target in anticancer drug development. TOP1 inhibitors, on the other hand, suppress enzymes involved in DNA replication. By combining these approaches, Qurient and Lonza are developing ADCs capable of attacking cancer cells through multiple pathways.
The partners plan to expand the application of SYN-duo CC to various antibody targets. Additionally, they aim to combine the CDK7 inhibitor with Lonza’s proprietary linker-payload technologies, opening up possibilities for novel drug combinations.
Lonza brings to the table its comprehensive CDMO services, spanning from initial technology assessment through development and production. The companies have agreed to share revenue generated from the joint commercialization of the platform based on a predetermined ratio.
At the London event, Dr. Lemon van Hail, Director of Biochemistry at Lonza’s ADC Research Institute, highlighted the potential of dual payload ADCs. He emphasized their unique ability to deliver drugs with different mechanisms using a single antibody, positioning them as a promising technology for developing next-generation anticancer drugs.
Nam Ki-yeon, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qurient, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating that this partnership is propelling Qurient’s CDK7 inhibitor technology beyond specific drug candidates, transforming it into a versatile global platform applicable to various ADC developments.
Nam added that they’re confident that Lonza’s extensive global customer network and robust development and production capabilities will enable drug developers worldwide to harness the full potential of CDK7 inhibitors in groundbreaking ways.