pharm edaily

[Shin-Min Joon, Edaily Reporter] Huons has added a Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) targeted anticancer agent to its drug portfolio and began to expand its drug development pipeline through open innovation.

From the left Kyung mi Park, vice president of Huons and Koo Lee CEO of Therapex posing for a commemorative photo after a technology transfer ceremony at Huons’ Dong Am Research Center on September 22. (Image=Huons)

Huons announced on September 23 that the company has signed an agreement with Therapex to in license its targeted anticancer drug candidate for non-small cell lung cancer ‘TRX-211’ on September 22 at Huons’ Dong-Am Research Center.

According to the agreement Huons will lead the development of clinical trial of TRX-211 which is at the preclinical phase. Huons will also be able to exercise the option to acquire global rights in the future.

TRX-211 is an oral Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor(TKI) targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutant non small cell lung cancer. Therapex presented the preclinical trial results of TRX-211, with its improved efficacy and selectivity at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2024.

Huons has decided to in-license TRX-211 hoping that it will provide new treatment option for EGFR exon 20 insertion mutant NSCLC patients who are in great need of alternative treatment options.

Therapex CEO Koo Lee PhD said “Therapex’s new drug candidate TRX-211 is a cluster of know-hows of Therapex’s EGFR mutant lung cancer therapy. Therapex plans to provide new business model where technology-based biotech grows to become the major commercialization entity by leveraging Huons’ great R&D infrastructure and clinical networks.”

Huons CEO Song Soo young said “Having sufficient experience in executing global clinical trials and business, along with its financial capabilities, Huons collaborating with Therapex with cutting edge targeted anticancer agent is a great example of open innovation in the field. When it comes to developing new drugs Huons will generate unique synergies through collaborating long-term vision and external technologies.”

Meanwhile Lung cancer is divided into small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer based on pathological criteria such as the size and shape of cancer cells. According to the National Cancer Registry Statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2024 there were 32,313 cases of lung cancer in Korea in 2022 accounting for 11.5% of all cancer occurrences. Non small cell lung cancer accounts for approximately 80%~ 85% of all lung cancer patients.