Experienced anticancer
drug development team leads clinical trials for broad-spectrum drug candidates
targeting various genetic mutations, including C797S
Therapex is developing
broad-spectrum anticancer drugs targeting various genetic mutations, with
experts possessing extensive experience in developing EGFR targeted anticancer
drugs, such as CEO Koo Lee PhD from Bridge Biotherapeutics and Senior Director
Jiyeon Park who has experience in clinical trials at Boehringer Ingelheim,
leading Therapex's clinical trials.
Interpark Bio Convergence announced its decision to change its name to "Therapex"
after resolving to undergo a spin-off in the organoid research division. With
the new name, Therapex, the company is now focusing on the research and
development of first-in-class new drugs, including anticancer drugs. As a fourth-generation
EGFR targeted anticancer drug candidate, TRX-221 has completed preclinical
trials and is now poised to enter clinical trials.
◇Embracing a 'Broad-Spectrum' Approach in the Fourth-Generation
EGFR Targeted Anticancer Drug Competition... Progressing Towards the Final
Stages of Preclinical Development
Therapex is a latecomer and has sought to distinguish itself with a “broad-spectrum”
approach by entering the competition for fourth-generation EGFR targeted
anticancer drug development. TRX-221 was discovered as a substance that
inhibits C797S mutation as well as mutations targeted by EGFR-targeted anticancer
drugs (Del19, L858R, T790M, etc.). It is a strategy to overcome resistance to
EGFR-targeted cancer drugs that are currently on the market.
TRX-221 is a substance that has identified dose-dependent anticancer activity
in various EGFR-mutant tumor models, as well as in C797S-mutant animal models.
Therapex has announced the study results of TRX-221 at the American Association
for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2023 in April.
Currently, the fourth-generation
EGFR targeted anticancer drug market is highly competitive as many companies,
including Bridge Biotherapeutics, Blueprint Medicines, Betta Pharmaceutical,
and Black Diamond Therapeutics, have entered clinical trial stages. Therapex
also plans to accelerate its development by entering global clinical trials
within the year, based on the preclinical results announced this time.
In addition, Therapex is also focusing on collecting safety-related data that
is important for drug development. This is a strategy to reduce off-target
toxicity. The current preclinical results indicate that no weight loss was
observed, even with an increased dose. The study is also employing a strategy
to improve clinical predictability using the Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft
(PDOX) models.
PDOX models are known as the animal models that best predict actual patient
outcomes by transplanting tissue from actual cancer patients into mice with
human immune systems. Therapex used such models when conducting the preclinical
research of TRX-221.
"TRX-221 will initially undergo clinical development as a second-line or
third-line treatment for Osimertinib (Tagrisso) resistant patients.
Subsequently, we plan to pursue clinical trials for its use as a first-line
treatment, leveraging its broad-spectrum advantages," CEO Koo Lee PhD
stated to the Bell.
◇ A Team of Experienced Experts in EGFR Targeted Anticancer Drug
Development Has Joined, Headed by CEO Koo Lee PhD from Bridge Biotherapeutics
Typically, it's not easy for biotechnology companies to develop clinical drug
discovery pipelines, as it requires full dedication for about 3 years. To
accelerate development, Therapex has rapidly recruited personnel in Korea with
extensive experience in new drug development. In particular, a number of
clinical trial experts, including CEO Koo Lee PhD, Senior Director Jiyeon Park
and Myoungki Baek PhD, have joined the team, leading to an acceleration in the
development of drug discovery pipelines, including TRX-221.
CEO Koo Lee PhD, who now leads Therapex, spearheaded the development of the fourth-generation
EGFR targeted anti-cancer drug at Bridge Biotherapeutics. He boasts 30 years of
experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, having accumulated
expertise in new drug discovery during his tenure at LG Chem (formerly LG Life
Sciences), Bridge Biotherapeutics, and Kainos Medicine.
Senior Director Jiyeon Park,
who contributed to the development of the second-generation EGFR targeted anticancer
drug, Giotrif, at Boehringer Ingelheim, has joined Therapex and played a key
role in establishing clinical development processes. Park also has experience
leading clinical trials at Samsung Bioepis and SK Biopharmaceuticals.
Myoungki Baek PhD, drawing on
his experience from developing Cenobamate at SK Biopharmaceuticals, has been
appointed as the Managing Director of Translational Research.
This talent recruitment was part of the company's fresh start under the new
name Therapex, initiated in April. Interpark Bio Convergence decided to
undertake a spin-off of its organoid research division at its extraordinary
general meeting of shareholders last year. Interpark and iMarket Korea
collectively hold 51% and 49% shares, respectively, in Interpark Bio
Convergence.
Interpark Bio Convergence,
established in 2020, jumped into the new drug development field by acquiring
the assets of Interpark Bio Convergence Research Institute after the former CEO
Hong Jun-ho (current CEO of GI Innovation) took office. Since then, the company
has been expediting drug development by in-licensing anticancer drug pipelines
from a number of new drug development biotechs such as BiSiChem, before
ultimately changing leaders to Koo Lee PhD who took over in 2021.
After Koo Lee PhD became the
new CEO, he relocated the company's headquarters to Munjeong-dong and expanded
its research facilities. Therapex is now actively working on the discovery of
new anticancer drug pipelines through a research collaboration agreement with
Elgen Therapeutics for a targeted protein degradation (TPD) anticancer drug
candidate. Therapex currently employs over 30 executives and employees,
including 24 personnel dedicated to research and development (R&D).
Source: The Bell, Reporter Hong Sook (http://www.thebell.co.kr/free/content/ArticleView.asp?key=202307201722575040102781)
