Hanmi Pharmaceutical Unveils Next-Generation Anti-Cancer SMDC: "Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment"

Oral Presentation of Preclinical Findings at "Discovery on Target" in the US

Suppression of Tumor Growth and Prolonged Survival Observed in Orthotopic Pancreatic Cancer Model

Hanmi Pharmaceutical has unveiled a next-generation anti-cancer modality: a small molecule drug conjugate (SMDC) targeting fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a key component of the tumor microenvironment.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical, a core business subsidiary of Hanmi Science, announced on October 6th that it delivered an oral presentation on the preclinical study results of its FAP-targeting SMDC at the international academic conference "Discovery on Target 2026," held in Boston, USA, from September 28 to October 1.

A representative from Hanmi Pharmaceutical is giving an oral presentation at the international academic conference "Discovery on Target 2026," held in Boston, USA, from the 28th of last month to the 1st of this month. Hanmi Pharmaceutical

An SMDC is a form in which a cytotoxic drug is conjugated to a relatively small molecule compound, instead of an antibody. Hanmi Pharmaceutical has adopted a strategy to enhance tissue penetration into tumors and the tumor microenvironment by leveraging the smaller molecular size of SMDCs compared to antibody-based ADCs.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical specifically selected FAP, which is highly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts present within the tumor microenvironment, as its drug target. FAP expression is limited in most normal adult tissues but is known to be highly expressed in the tumor microenvironment of various solid tumors, including pancreatic and colorectal cancers.

Utilizing its next-generation drug discovery platform, the "DNA-Encoded Library (DEL) screening" technology, Hanmi Pharmaceutical identified a novel small molecule compound that selectively binds to FAP. The company then conjugated a cytotoxic drug to this compound, thereby developing SMDC candidate substances.

This SMDC incorporates a linker that remains stable in the bloodstream but is designed to be activated specifically in the tumor microenvironment. According to the company, this approach reduces systemic drug exposure and enables the cytotoxic agent to act primarily at the tumor site.

In preclinical studies, the anti-tumor efficacy of the SMDC was confirmed in a mouse model implanted with FAP-expressing cell lines. In particular, in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model, the SMDC demonstrated both inhibition of tumor growth and a prolongation of survival period.

A Hanmi Pharmaceutical official stated, "Unlike conventional ADCs that rely on the specific expression of antigens by individual cancer cells, our SMDC is differentiated by its ability to deliver drugs by targeting FAP expressed in CAFs, which are components of the tumor microenvironment in various types of cancer. By extending therapeutic coverage beyond directly targeting cancer cells, we have confirmed the potential of SMDCs as an anti-cancer modality capable of treating not just the tumor itself, but also its surrounding microenvironment."

Hanmi Pharmaceutical is also scheduled to deliver an oral presentation on these same research results at the "Nature Conference – Next Generation Cancer Therapeutics," which will be held at the MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) in Texas, USA, from October 6 to October 8.

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