Kyungbo Pharmaceutical and Binex Sign Agreement to Jointly Establish ADC CDMO System

by Jeong Donghoon

Published 20 Feb.2025 09:06(KST)

On the 19th, Hwang Jae-taek, Executive Director of Kyungbo Pharmaceutical (left), and Cho Jin-seop, Executive Director of Vinex, signed a business agreement and took a commemorative photo at Vinex's Songdo plant in Incheon. Photo by Kyungbo Pharmaceutical

Kyungbo Pharmaceutical signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 19th at Vinex’s Songdo plant in Incheon to collaborate with Vinex on antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business.

Through this agreement, the two companies plan to jointly establish Korea’s first ‘ADC CDMO service package’ that provides an integrated solution from the development of antibodies, linkers, and payloads for ADCs to the production of clinical ADC samples.

ADC is a next-generation anticancer drug. It is a chemically linked form where an antibody that targets cancer cells is connected to a payload that destroys cancer cells via a linker. This field has recently become highly competitive in the global market.

According to the agreement, Kyungbo Pharmaceutical will screen its currently established payload and linker libraries to derive optimized ADC combinations, develop processes and analytical methods, and be responsible for ADC manufacturing. Vinex will take charge of developing cell lines, processes, and analytical methods for ADC antibodies that meet market demand, as well as GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) production.

Kim Tae-young, CEO of Kyungbo Pharmaceutical, said, "Kyungbo Pharmaceutical is currently focusing on the ADC field by promoting the establishment of production facilities for ADCs and expanding cooperative relationships with various specialized companies. Through this agreement, we will secure unparalleled competitiveness in the ADC CDMO sector together with Vinex."

Lee Hyuk-jong, CEO of Vinex, stated, "Vinex recently received cGMP certification from the U.S. FDA for its Songdo bio plant. Through the agreement with Kyungbo Pharmaceutical, we will provide global-level ADC CDMO services."

Kyungbo Pharmaceutical has established partnerships for joint ADC development and production with multiple domestic companies that develop antibodies and possess linker technology, including Ligakem Bio, Pharos Gen, and Protium Science. Last year, the company announced an investment of approximately 85.5 billion KRW to build GMP facilities for ADC production. Through this, it plans to produce and supply both clinical trial and commercial ADC raw materials and finished products starting from the second half of 2027.

Vinex is a bio CDMO company with experience in developing and producing various biopharmaceuticals such as antibodies, bispecific antibodies, fusion proteins, and plasmid DNA (pDNA). It has received cGMP approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), and Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) of Japan, supplying high-quality biopharmaceuticals to the global market.