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Celltrion Signs Licensing Deal with U.S. Kaigene for Two Antibody Drug Candidates

Celltrion is joining hands one after another with domestic and global biotech companies to secure its next-generation antibody drug pipeline. Following a recent joint research agreement for multi-antibody immuno-oncology drug candidates, the company has also obtained exclusive development rights for antibody-based new drug candidates aimed at treating autoimmune diseases. According to the company, it plans to submit investigational new drug (IND) applications for a total of 13 drug candidates by 2028 and embark in earnest on new drug development.

On Nov. 4, Celltrion announced that it had signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Kaigene, a biotechnology company based in Maryland, United States, for two antibody-based new drug candidates for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Under the deal, Celltrion will pay up to 1.06 trillion won (approximately $734.85 million), including an upfront payment of 11.4 billion won. Kaigene is a biotech firm founded by CEO Shin Min-jae, who previously led the development and clinical research of batoclimab at HanAll Biopharma. Celltrion secured exclusive global rights – excluding China and Japan – for the development and commercialization of Kaigen’s preclinical pipeline candidate “KG006,” as well as worldwide exclusive rights for the global development, production, and commercialization of “KG002.” According to the company, “These are substances capable of effectively eliminating pathogenic autoantibodies that cause diseases, and they are gaining attention as next-generation therapeutic strategies.”

Last month, Celltrion also signed a series of joint research and development agreements with South Korean biotech companies participating in the “Celltrion Open Innovation Program.” It entered into a joint R&D deal with MustBio worth up to 712.5 billion won to develop a triple fusion protein immuno-oncology drug. As competition in the PD-(L)1 immunotherapy market intensifies, Celltrion’s strategy is to secure a differentiated “best-in-class” immuno-oncology therapy through the development of a triple fusion protein drug. The company also signed a joint R&D contract worth 125.9 billion won with Fortray to explore new drug candidates using spatial transcriptomics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Celltrion has secured the rights to discover up to ten new drug targets and develop candidate substances. Spatial transcriptomic analysis can reveal cancer type-specific gene expression patterns and is regarded as a highly promising technology in the field of precision medicine.

This year, Celltrion has begun Phase 1 clinical trials for its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) new drugs CT-P70 and CT-P71, transforming itself from a biosimilar developer into a new drug development company. In addition, Phase 1 clinical trials for its multi-antibody immuno-oncology drug CT-P72 and ADC new drug CT-P73 will also begin within the year.

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