GenScript ProBio, a global CDMO, and NuclixBio, a company that develops treatments based on circular RNA, have entered into a strategic agreement to develop the first circular RNA-based anticancer drug in South Korea.

With this strategic partnership, both companies will establish the first large-scale production process for circular RNA therapeutics in South Korea from preclinical to clinical stages (with GMP production). This also serves as a cornerstone for NuclixBio’s of its circular RNA-based immune cancer treatment to enter full-scale clinical trials.

In the rapidly growing mRNA drug development field, circular RNA has the advantage of persisting in the body for an extended period and producing more therapeutic proteins. In particular, NuclixBio’s self-developed circular RNA platform, “ringRNATM” has not only engineered the IRES (Internal Ribosome Entry Site), which plays a crucial role in protein production, but also minimized immunogenicity, enhancing its functionality as a therapeutic platform.

Patrick Liu, chairman of GenScript ProBio, said, “The strategic collaboration with NuclixBio, which possesses the most advanced circular RNA technology in South Korea, is a very meaningful project for GenScript ProBio to secure CMC and GMP production technology, experience, and know-how for circular RNA.” He added, “We will do our utmost to ensure the successful global clinical entry of the immune anticancer therapeutics developed with NuclixBio’s unique ‘ringRNATM’ platform technology.”

Ho-Young Kang, CEO of NuclixBio, said, “Globally, the competition in mRNA drug development is intensifying. Not only preventive vaccines but also cancer vaccines, immune anticancer drugs, CAR-T, and other areas are seeing mRNA therapy development. We are pleased to take a step closer to clinical trials for our circular RNA-based immune anticancer drug through collaboration with GenScript ProBio, which has rich experience and expertise in the global CGT CDMO field.”