[Bio Story]③Expanding CNS Pipeline Including Alzheimer's... Enhancing Corporate Value

Interview with Sungwook Lee, CEO of Algenomics ③


Full-Scale Expansion of CNS New Drug Pipeline

Therapeutic Mechanism Confirmed: Substituting the Entire Genetic Sentence

Algenomics is actively expanding its new drug pipeline by broadening indications to include central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In particular, its next-generation flagship pipeline, an Alzheimer's disease treatment, serves as a representative example that demonstrates the value of the company's core ribonucleic acid (RNA) editing platform technology.

While existing antibody-based Alzheimer’s treatments have focused on clearing amyloid-beta accumulated in the brain—which raises concerns about adverse effects such as brain edema or microbleeds (ARIA)—Algenomics has taken a fundamentally different approach by correcting the disease-causing gene itself. The company’s mechanism involves converting the 'ApoE4' gene, which increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, to the protective factor 'ApoE2', which is advantageous for cognitive function preservation.

Sungwook Lee, CEO of Algenomics, is giving an interview with The Asia Business Daily at the headquarters in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Donghoon Jung

On July 22, Sungwook Lee, CEO of Algenomics, explained, "Patients with the ApoE4 gene have a diminished ability to eliminate amyloid-beta and experience more severe tau tangling, which induces neurotoxicity. Our technology generates a combined effect: with a single therapeutic molecule, it eliminates toxic, harmful genes while concurrently inducing the expression of beneficial genes that protect the brain." He added, "Unlike traditional methods that modify single bases one at a time, our technology corrects the entire genetic sentence, providing a major competitive advantage—enabling one-shot correction of multiple base mutations needed for ApoE2 substitution."

Another crucial pillar of pipeline expansion lies in the advancement of drug delivery technology. Ensuring that gene therapies precisely reach intended target organs—such as muscle, heart, or brain, beyond the liver—remains a shared challenge in the global pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Algenomics's current brain tumor and liver cancer clinical trials employ local administration via direct injection at the lesion site. However, to enhance patient convenience and broaden indications by enabling systemic administration, the company is focusing on delivery vehicle research. In particular, securing technology to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is essential for the success of CNS-targeted drugs such as Alzheimer’s treatments. This is why Algenomics is collaborating with companies including Glugin Therapeutics, specializing in adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, and Surgenex, which develops lipid nanoparticle (LNP) systems.

Sungwook Lee, CEO of Algenomics, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the headquarters in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Donghoon Jung

The company has also announced plans to strengthen communication with the market to enhance shareholder value. Currently, the share prices of domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies have generally underperformed in line with overall industry trends. Algenomics is determined to overcome these conditions by transparently conveying its intrinsic value to the market. CEO Lee added, "Within this year, we plan to hold briefings for institutional investors and the media, and to present concrete short- to mid- and long-term roadmaps for technology licensing progress with global pharmaceutical companies, pipeline expansion strategies, and new growth engines such as circular RNA technology—steadily building market confidence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.