2 weeks Ago By Jung So-yeon
Hanmi Pharmaceutical has announced that it will present the highest number of research outcomes among domestic pharmaceutical and bio companies at the prestigious American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) for three consecutive years, demonstrating the future value of its cancer drug pipeline. From April 25 to 30, Hanmi will participate in the AACR 2025 event taking place in Chicago, USA, where it will unveil a total of 11 preclinical research results, the most among Korean pharmaceutical and biotech firms. At the AACR, Hanmi will present research findings on seven new drug candidates, including: Two studies on EZH1/2 dual inhibitors (HM97662) Two studies on selective HER2 inhibitors (HM100714) MAT2A inhibitor (HM100760) SOS1 inhibitor (HM101207) STING mRNA cancer drug Two studies on p53-mRNA cancer drugs Two studies on BH3120 based on a bispecific antibody platform led by Beijing Hanmi Pharmaceutical.
Hanmi's R&D Center researchers will be present to explain the poster presentations and introduce the company’s innovative projects, and there are expectations for fruitful collaboration opportunities with leading global pharmaceutical companies. - Developing Precision Therapies Targeting Specific Cancer Genetic Mutations Hanmi will present new biomarkers for its next-generation targeted cancer drug, “EZH1/2 Dual Inhibitors (HM97662),” and provide evidence that combining it with standard chemotherapy can maximize anticancer efficacy. Currently, platinum-based or irinotecan chemotherapy agents are used as standard treatments for several solid tumors, including ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, and small-cell lung cancer, but issues of recurrence or resistance have been reported.
Additionally, Hanmi will disclose research results on the anticancer efficacy of its oral treatment “Selective HER2 Inhibitor (HM100714)” for central nervous system tumors and overcoming Enher2 resistance. HER2 mutations increase the risk of brain and meningeal metastases in various cancers, including breast and lung cancer, which significantly worsen patient prognosis and lower survival rates. Hanmi will also reveal the combinational anticancer efficacy of the MAT2A inhibitor (HM100760) with PRMT5 inhibitors, which gained attention since its first public unveiling last October.
The MAT2A inhibitor targets the metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells, presenting a new breakthrough for difficult-to-treat cancers where existing therapies have limited effects. Moreover, Hanmi is expected to announce the mechanism of action and pharmacological activity of its new cancer pipeline, SOS1 Inhibitor (HM101207), for the first time. This new SOS1 inhibitor prevents the binding between the SOS1 protein and KRAS, one of the most lethal proteins that activate cancer in the signaling cascade, irrespective of mutations.
“The Hanmi researchers are deepening innovative studies based on precision medicine to present a new paradigm for cancer treatment,"said Choi In-young, Head of the R&D Center. "We are focusing on developing next-generation targeted therapies that target specific cancer genetic mutations like EZH1/2, selective HER2, MAT2A, and SOS1, and we anticipate the realization of advanced precision therapies that selectively attack only cancer cells.” - Expanding Innovations in Next-Generation mRNA Platforms Hanmi will also present research outcomes from its mRNA platform-based cancer drugs, which are gaining attention as a next-generation modality.
At this conference, the "STING mRNA cancer drug," which induces a strong anticancer immune response by directly expressing the STING protein, will be publicly unveiled. Activating the STING protein enhances the infiltration of various immune cells into tumors, thereby contributing to the suppression of cancer progression. Additionally, Hanmi will share research results on a "next-generation p53-mRNA cancer drug" that targets p53 mutant cancers using mRNA platform technology.
Mutations in the p53 gene, a key tumor suppressor gene, allow cancer cells to continuously divide and grow, and while there have been attempts to develop therapies targeting the commonly found p53 mutations in cancer patients, no commercial drugs currently exist, making Hanmi’s research with mRNA platform technology highly anticipated. The R&D Center of Hanmi Group’s local subsidiary in China, Beijing Hanmi Pharmaceutical, will also present nonclinical research results of the next-generation immune anticancer drug BH3120. Global Phase 1 clinical trials for evaluating the safety and tolerability of BH3120 are currently underway in Korea and the United States, while the Beijing Hanmi R&D Center is conducting various nonclinical studies to further elucidate the in vivo mechanisms of action of BH3120 in parallel with clinical research.
“As a leading R&D-focused pharmaceutical company representing South Korea, we are unveiling a distinctive pipeline of cancer drugs that integrate sophisticated scientific approaches with next-generation modalities, elevating our competitiveness in new drug development to the highest levels globally," said R&D Center Head Choi. "Through the development of global innovative new drugs, we aim to proactively expand Hanmi's future value and set a new benchmark for the pharmaceutical and biotech R&D sector in our country.”.
