AriBio Lab to Unveil Alzheimer's Preventive Vaccine Plan Ahead of AriBio Becoming Largest Shareholder
AriBio Lab (formerly CHA Vaccine Institute) will unveil its plan to develop a preventive vaccine for Alzheimer's disease for the first time ahead of a change in its largest shareholder. As Alzheimer's drug developer AriBio is set to become its largest shareholder, the two companies are stepping up mutual investment and business cooperation, drawing attention to the potential expansion of their brain disease business to encompass both treatment and prevention.
AriBio Lab announced on November 10 that it will take part in the Korean Association of Immunologists International Conference (KAI 2026), to be held at Songdo Convensia in Incheon from November 12 to 14, where it will unveil plans to develop new pipelines in preventive vaccines for degenerative brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, and in anti-aging.
The announcement is drawing attention because it comes ahead of AriBio becoming AriBio Lab's largest shareholder. In September, AriBio decided to invest KRW 15 billion in AriBio Lab's KRW 18 billion third-party allotment paid-in capital increase. Once the capital increase is paid in, AriBio will replace AriBio Holdings as the largest shareholder.
The two companies are also strengthening their capital ties. At a board meeting on November 4, AriBio Lab decided to acquire KRW 5 billion in face value of AriBio's 26th convertible bond (CB) for KRW 10 billion. AriBio is investing KRW 15 billion in AriBio Lab, while AriBio Lab is also securing a potential stake in AriBio. The possibility of expanding joint research and development and business cooperation between the two companies has also been raised.
The unveiling of the preventive vaccine development plan comes as AriBio prepares to announce the results of the global Phase 3 clinical trial of AR1001, its oral Alzheimer's disease treatment. AriBio has completed the global Phase 3 trial, which involved 1,535 patients in 13 countries, and plans to release key results at CTAD 2026 in Boston, U.S., on November 16.
AriBio Lab is expanding its preventive vaccine business based on its proprietary immunostimulant technology. Its independently developed immunostimulant, Lipo-pam™, is the only one from a Korean company listed in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) vaccine adjuvant library. Based on this technology, the company is pursuing joint development, immunostimulant supply, and technology transfers with global vaccine developers. It has also formed a partnership with Samjin Pharmaceutical for joint vaccine development and commercialization.
Development of its existing vaccine pipeline is also continuing. Its shingles vaccine candidate (CVI-VZV-001) demonstrated safety and a 100% seroprotection rate in a Phase 1 trial, and administration in the Phase 2 trial has now been completed. The company plans to announce the Phase 2 results in the first quarter of 2027 and proceed with subsequent clinical development.
Business ties between the two companies are also attracting interest. The idea is that combining AriBio's expertise in developing Alzheimer's treatments with AriBio Lab's immunostimulant platform technology could expand their brain disease business from treatment to prevention. However, further discussions are needed to determine the specific form and scope of future cooperation.
"AriBio's expertise in developing Alzheimer's treatments and AriBio Lab's proprietary immunostimulant platform are complementary strengths built up in different fields," said Jung Jaejun, CEO of AriBio Lab. "We will keep all possibilities open, drawing on the technologies and research and development capabilities of both companies, and do our utmost to maximize shareholder value."
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He added, "Linking AriBio Lab's preventive vaccine development capabilities with the group's experience in brain disease research and development could create new business opportunities that encompass both treatment and prevention."
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