DAAN Biotherapeutics announced on February 13 that it has signed an exclusive global licensing agreement with LigaChem Biosciences for the development and commercialization of an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting a novel cancer antigen.

While the specific target remains undisclosed, LigaChem confirmed that the antibody targets an antigen protein expressed in various solid tumors, including lung and colorectal cancers. Currently, no commercialized ADCs target this antigen, though several global pharmaceutical companies have shown strong interest in developing therapies against it.

LigaChem highlighted that its proven ADC platform, combined with DAAN Biotherapeutics’ differentiated antibody research capabilities, positions the collaboration to develop a potential best-in-class ADC for this novel target. Under the agreement, LigaChem will pay DAAN Biotherapeutics upfront fees, milestone payments tied to clinical development and regulatory approval, and royalties on future sales. Specific financial terms were not disclosed.

As part of its “Vision 2030” strategy, LigaChem aims to secure 3-5 new ADC candidates annually and rapidly advance them into clinical trials. This agreement aligns with that strategy, allowing LigaChem to fast-track clinical development while continuing to expand its ADC pipeline.

DAAN Biotherapeutics, founded in 2020 by Dr. Cho Byung-Chul of Yonsei Cancer Center, specializes in T-cell receptor (TCR)-based therapeutics. The company has established a robust pipeline of tumor-targeting antibodies for solid tumors through a strategic partnership with OmniAb.

Kim Yong-Joo, CEO of LigaChem Biosciences, stated, “We are thrilled to partner with DAAN Biotherapeutics, a company with unparalleled clinical experience and antibody development expertise in lung cancer. This collaboration supports our Vision 2030 strategy, and with our validated ADC platform, we aim to deliver differentiated ADC therapies to the market.”

Dr. Cho Byung-Chul, CEO of DAAN Biotherapeutics, added, “We will continue developing novel tumor-targeting antibodies for ADCs in collaboration with global pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, we aim to lead the solid tumor-targeted T-cell engager field through our proprietary TACTIC (Tumor-targeting Conditionally Activated T-cell Engager) platform.”