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IMBiologics, Winners of the 11th Suwon City Small Business Awards

Reporter Kim Seong-taek   Posted 2025.09.22. 09:31IMBiologics, Winners of the 11th Suwon City Small Business AwardsThe 11th Suwon City Small Business Awards Winners Announced / Photo courtesy of Suwon City[Suwon=Environment Daily] Reporter Kim Seong-taek = Suwon City announced on the 19th that it has selected the winners of the 11th Suwon City Small and Medium Business Awards. The grand prize went to Song Baek-gyun, CEO of VAD Instrument Co., Ltd.The Suwon City Small and Medium Business Award is presented to outstanding small and medium-sized business owners who have contributed to the development of the local economy through technological development, productivity improvement, and export growth, and who have enhanced the city's international competitiveness and status.The city accepted applications in July, with a total of 24 entrepreneurs applying. The final winner was selected after document screening and evaluation by the judging committee.The recipients of the awards by sector were Lee Young-gyu, CEO of Pie Healthcare Co., Ltd. for management innovation, Gil Ki-sun, CEO of UT Information Co., Ltd. for technology development, Seok Jae-ho, CEO of Creates Co., Ltd. for export promotion, Ha Gyeong-sik, CEO of IMBioLogics Co., Ltd. for startups and ventures, Lee Yul-beom, CEO of New One Co., Ltd. for job creation, and Jeong Sang-hoo, CEO of Techwell Co., Ltd. for labor-management harmony.The awards ceremony will be held at the '3rd Suwon City Entrepreneurs' Day' event held at the Suwon Convention Center on October 28, and winners will be awarded a trophy and a Suwon Mayor's plaque.The award-winning companies will be treated as ‘Suwon City Excellent Companies’ for three years, and will receive additional points when participating in overseas exhibitions, preferential treatment in secondary support for small and medium-sized enterprise development funds (2% → 2.5%), priority in support policies, and a three-year deferral of tax investigations if there are no local tax delinquencies.출처 : 환경일보(http://www.hkbs.co.kr)

2025-10-29

IMBiologics Raises 42.2 Billion KRW in Pre-IPO Funding...

By Sungmin Kim, Biospectator | Published: October 14, 2025, 08:44 KST | Updated: October 14, 2025, 08:44 KSTIMBiologics, which is developing pipelines for autoimmune diseases and immuno-oncology therapeutics, has been accelerating its R&D efforts. Since its establishment in 2020, the company has raised a total of 79.2 billion KRW in cumulative funding. In August, it passed the technology evaluation required for a special listing on KOSDAQ.▲Kyong-sik Ha, CEO of IMBiologicsIMBiologics announced on the 14th that it has successfully closed a pre-IPO funding round worth 42.2 billion KRW. With this latest round, the total funds raised by the company since its founding in August 2020 now amount to 79.2 billion KRW. Previously, the company secured 4 billion KRW in seed funding in 2021, followed by 13 billion KRW in Series A, and 20 billion KRW in Series B funding in 2023.In August of this year, IMBiologics passed the technology evaluation for a special KOSDAQ listing and is targeting an IPO in the first half of next year.Participating follow-on investors in this round include Atinum Investment, Partners Investment, CJ Investment, K2 Investment Partners, Prodigy Investment, Shinhan Venture Investment, Wooshin Venture Investment, Timefolio Capital/Shinhan Capital, LSK Investment, and Kingo Investment Partners. New investors include Korea Development Bank (KDB), Quad Asset Management, DS Asset Management/DS Investment Partners, AJU IB, Korea Investment & Securities, and Shinhan Investment Corp.IMBiologics plans to use the newly secured funds to develop new drug programs for autoimmune diseases and immuno-oncology therapies, and to form global partnerships. In August, the company entered into a joint development partnership with Chinese biotech firm GeneQuantum for multivalent antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). This collaboration combines IMBiologics' multivalent antibody backbone platform technology, ePENDY (enhanced/engineered PENtamer boDY), with GeneQuantum’s payload and linker technologies.CEO Kyung-sik Ha of IMBiologics stated, “In addition to the pipelines that have already been licensed out, we plan to expand our core pipeline currently under research, accelerate development, and deliver new business results. We are committed to growing into a global biotech company that launches innovative new drugs in the fields of autoimmune disease and immuno-oncology.”Sungmin Kim | sungmin.kim@bios.co.kr Copyright © Biospectator. All rights reserved. Reproduction, redistribution, and use for AI training are prohibited.

2025-10-15

IMBiologics Partners with China’s GeneQuantum for Joint Development of ‘Multivalent ADC’

Published: August 22, 2025, 09:20 | Updated: August 22, 2025, 09:34 By Sungmin Kim, BioSpectatorApplying GeneQuantum’s linker-payload technology to the multivalent antibody ‘ePENDY’… “Advantages for proteins with low target expression and rapid internalization compared to IgG”IMBiologics announced on the 22nd that it has signed a joint research agreement with Chinese biotech company GeneQuantum for the co-development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).IMBiologics is developing autoimmune disease therapies and immuno-oncology treatments based on its proprietary multivalent antibody backbone technology platform called ‘ePENDY (enhanced/engineered PENtamer boDY)’Under this agreement, IMBiologics will jointly develop a new modality of multivalent antibody-based ADCs by combining GeneQuantum’s linker and payload technologies.IMBiologics will identify and produce promising ADC targets using the ePENDY platform, while GeneQuantum will apply its linker and payload technologies to create ‘ePENDY ADC’ molecules and conduct characterization and efficacy evaluations. Specific ADC targets and contract terms were not disclosed.IMBiologics’ ePENDY technology, unlike IgG antibodies that have two antigen-binding variable domains, is based on an IgM structure and can bind to up to 10 target proteins. This results in high overall avidity for antigens and creates a clustering effect, making it suitable for agonistic properties that activate immune cells.Recently, IMBiologics discovered that the ePENDY technology demonstrates higher efficacy than IgG antibodies for proteins with low target expression or at low effective doses, and it internalizes into cells faster than IgG antibodies after binding to target proteins. Based on these characteristics, the company expects that ADCs using ePENDY can overcome the limitations of existing IgG-based ADCs.IMBiologics CEO Ha Kyung-sik expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration with GeneQuantum, emphasizing that this joint research marks an important global partnership that leverages the advantages of ePENDY over IgG antibodies. He noted that the project holds significant meaning in terms of the completeness and scalability of the platform technology, and added that the company will continue to pursue various collaborations and business achievements with global partners using the ePENDY platform.GeneQuantum CEO Qin Gang stated that the partnership represents an important opportunity to expand and globalize the company’s proprietary enzymatic conjugation technology. He expressed expectations that combining this technology with IMBiologics’ next-generation ePENDY platform will enable the development of next-generation ADCs that target a broader range of cancers, overcome tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance, and achieve an improved therapeutic window.Reporter: Sungmin Kim | sungmin.kim@bios.co.kr© BioSpectator. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, or use for AI training is prohibited. Press releases and inquiries: press@bios.co.kr

2025-08-22

IMBiologics Passes KOSDAQ Technical Evaluation with 'A, A' Ratings

IMBiologics Passes KOSDAQ Technical Evaluation with 'A, A' RatingsPublished: August 4, 2025, 07:30 KST | Updated: August 4, 2025, 07:30 KSTBy Sungmin Kim, BioSpectatorCompany Initiates Official KOSDAQ Listing Process, Plans to Submit Preliminary Review ApplicationIMBiologics announced on August 4 that it has passed the technical evaluation required for a technology-based special listing on the KOSDAQ market.The company received “A, A” ratings from two professional evaluation agencies designated by the Korea Exchange, demonstrating recognition for both its technological capabilities and business potential. IMBiologics plans to submit its preliminary listing application as soon as possible, with the goal of filing a securities registration statement by the end of this year or in the first quarter of next year.Founded in August 2020, IMBiologics is a biotech company focused on developing innovative new drugs based on immuno-modulatory biologics.Its lead program, “IMB-101,” is a bispecific antibody targeting OX40LxTNF for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In June last year, the company signed a license-out (L/O) agreement with U.S.-based Navigator Medicines, followed by another deal with China’s Huadong Medicine in August. The respective deals were valued at $944.75 million and $307.5 million. IMBiologics confirmed the safety and tolerability of IMB-101 in a Phase 1a clinical trial, and its partners are currently conducting Phase 1b trials.In addition, the company is expanding its research and development portfolio through in-house programs using its proprietary multivalent antibody backbone platform, “ePENDY” (enhanced/engineered PENtamer boDY), to develop treatments for autoimmune diseases, immuno-oncology, and ophthalmologic conditions.Ha Kyong-sik, CEO of IMBiologics, stated, “This technical evaluation officially acknowledges the completeness and competitiveness of our new drug development technologies, as well as our commercialization capabilities. We will diligently carry out the remaining steps toward our KOSDAQ listing and strive to achieve meaningful business outcomes each year, becoming a trusted company in the market that prioritizes its promises to shareholders.”For press inquiries: sungmin.kim@bios.co.kr© BioSpectator. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, or use for AI training is prohibited.

2025-08-04

IMBiologics' 'OX40LxTNF' Enters Phase 1b Clinical Trial in the U.S.

IMBiologics' 'OX40LxTNF' Enters U.S. Phase 1b Trial – What Is Its Competitiveness?By Sungmin Kim, BioSpectatorPublished: June 10, 2025, 14:10 | Updated: June 10, 2025, 16:49Navigator Medicines, a U.S.-based partner of Korea’s IMBiologics, has begun a Phase 1b clinical trial for the bispecific antibody targeting OX40L and TNFα, called 'NAV-240 (IMB-101)', roughly one year after acquiring exclusive global rights (excluding Asia) to the antibody. Two months after the licensing agreement with IMBiologics, Navigator officially launched, raising $100 million in Series A funding led by RA Capital Management and Forbion.In March this year, Navigator disclosed the first-in-human Phase 1a trial results for NAV-240 at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD 2025) meeting and began accelerating its development, selecting hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic inflammatory disease, as the first indication. The company believes NAV-240 could be developed as a once-monthly injectable treatment for HS.Navigator is betting on the OX40L target and has also initiated development of a next-generation bispecific antibody with an extended half-life, ‘NAV-242’. Through this approach, the company aims to optimize drug exposure and dosage, providing differentiated treatment options for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as HS, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Additionally, Navigator is conducting preclinical development of the OX40L antibody ‘NAV-140 (IMB-102)’, also licensed from IMBiologics, and is discovering a new OX40L bispecific antibody ‘NAV-340’ (target undisclosed).Globally, bispecific antibodies targeting both OX40L and TNFα are still in early development. Sanofi is currently the front-runner, having announced during its Q1 2025 earnings call in April that its nanobody ‘brivekimig’, targeting OX40L and TNFα, achieved the primary endpoint in a Phase 2 trial for HS.Against this backdrop, Navigator announced on May 29 that it had administered the first dose of NAV-240 in a Phase 1b multiple ascending dose (MAD) trial involving healthy subjects. Interim results are expected to be released within the year.In the Phase 1b trial, Navigator plans to administer NAV-240 to 24 participants across three dose cohorts, evaluating safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of repeated dosing. Based on these results, the company plans to initiate trials in patients with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases by the end of the year.Tosh Butt, CEO of Navigator, stated, “This is a critical time for Navigator as we aim to make a positive impact for patients with difficult-to-treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Our OX40L-targeted programs, including NAV-240 and NAV-242, aim to provide new treatment options in areas with high unmet needs.”NAV-240 Phase 1a Trial Results – How Does It Compare to Sanofi?TNFα is a well-known target in inflammatory diseases, effectively inhibiting type 1 inflammation mediated by Th1 cells across a broad range of indications. However, significant unmet needs remain due to limited efficacy in many patients.OX40 and its ligand OX40L belong to the TNF receptor and superfamily, respectively. OX40L is expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and activated T cells, playing a key co-stimulatory signaling role essential for T cell responses. It is involved in a broad range of T cell responses including Treg, Th1, Tfh, Th17, and Th2.Navigator expects that NAV-240, a ‘2+2’ structured bispecific antibody (OX40L antibody + TNFα scFv), will not only target TNFα involved in Th1 inflammation but also modulate type 2 inflammation. By regulating inflammatory cytokines and adaptive immune responses, the drug is expected to contribute to long-term immune homeostasis. The OX40–OX40L axis is a validated clinical target, with companies such as Amgen and Sanofi reporting positive results in late-stage atopic dermatitis trials.In preclinical studies, IMBiologics demonstrated that the gene expression profiles of immune cells differed depending on whether NAV-240 (bispecific) or NAV-140 (OX40L antibody) was administered, suggesting that each mechanism may target different indications. NAV-240 is interpreted to primarily act in Th1/Th17-related diseases, whereas NAV-140 may be more effective in Th2-related conditions.At AAD 2025, Navigator presented data from the single ascending dose (SAD) Phase 1a trial of NAV-240. This trial involved 40 healthy subjects receiving one of five doses (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10 mg/kg) intravenously (IV), randomized in a 6:2 ratio against placebo (NCT06181786).No serious adverse events or treatment discontinuations were reported. Only one subject in the lowest dose group (0.1 mg/kg) showed a possibly drug-related event, confirming the safety profile. NAV-240 demonstrated dose-dependent pharmacokinetics, and preliminary modeling predicts that once-monthly dosing will achieve serum trough levels above the target concentration in HS, which is known for high antibody clearance compared to other diseases like psoriasis.HS is a chronic, progressive inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful and recurring abscesses and lesions, severely impacting quality of life. Current treatments include antibiotics, TNFα antibodies, IL-17 antibodies, and surgery. However, clinical response rates are low, and even FDA-approved Humira shows efficacy in only about half of patients, underscoring the need for more effective and longer-lasting treatments.Sanofi Prioritizes Its Bispecific Antibody for HSIn a positive move, Sanofi revealed during its Q1 earnings that its TNFα x OX40L bispecific nanobody, brivekimig, met the primary endpoint in the HS OBTAIN Phase 2 trial (NCT06118099). Brivekimig is a 2+2 structured drug with an added albumin-binding domain to extend its half-life.Key results showed that the drug produced clinically meaningful improvements in HiSCR50 and other efficacy endpoints in biologic-naïve patients. No new safety issues were identified after 28 weeks of dosing, with full data to be presented at a future conference.Sanofi announced it would now prioritize development of brivekimig over its OX40L antibody amlitelimab, which failed to demonstrate similar efficacy in HS.As part of its expansion strategy, Sanofi recently launched the T1D OBTAIN Phase 2 trial to assess brivekimig’s ability to preserve pancreatic beta cell function in newly diagnosed adult and adolescent type 1 diabetes patients (NCT06812988).IMBiologics anticipates that IMB-101 (NAV-240) may become a best-in-class asset compared to brivekimig. The company stated, “Brivekimig, being a nanobody-derived molecule, showed immunogenicity in over 80% of subjects in Phase 1a. We expect IMB-101 to have competitive advantages in safety and dosing interval. Both preclinical and clinical results suggest that IMB-101 offers a broader therapeutic index.”IMBiologics also expects to maintain a competitive edge with its OX40L-targeted antibodies.Sanofi has been actively investing in amlitelimab as a follow-up asset to its blockbuster immunology drug Dupixent. It is currently focused on three indications within its OX40L portfolio. Amlitelimab, acquired through the $1.1 billion acquisition of Kymab in 2021, failed in a Phase 2 asthma trial this April, though efficacy was confirmed in eosinophil- and neutrophil-high subgroups. The company plans to continue into Phase 3 with a more targeted patient population.The most advanced amlitelimab indication is atopic dermatitis, with two ongoing Phase 3 trials (COAST 1 and SHORE), and early efficacy data expected in the second half of this year. For HS, Sanofi has shifted its focus to fast-track development of its bispecific candidate, brivekimig.IMBiologics expects to differentiate its OX40L antibody IMB-102 from amlitelimab based on epitope-driven mechanism of action. IMB-102 directly inhibits the OX40–OX40L interaction, while amlitelimab works by preventing OX40L trimer formation. In both in vitro and in vivo atopic dermatitis models, IMB-102 demonstrated higher inhibitory efficacy. Additionally, IMB-102 does not bind to homologous TNFSF proteins, indicating superior drug selectivity.

2025-06-13

Sanofi's Phase 2 Success with 'Brivekimig' Targeting TNFα and OX40L Brings a Smile to IMBiologics

By Yongjun Ji │ Published: April 28, 2025 06:10 │ Updated: April 28, 2025 17:05     -Sanofi shifts HS strategy priority from Amlitelimab to Brivekimig      -TNF and OX40L emerge as key targets for immune modulation as Brivekimig proves PoC      -IMBiologics' dual-antibody candidate 'IMB-101' gains renewed attention Sanofi, the multinational pharmaceutical company, has signaled a reprioritization of its next-generation autoimmune disease asset to potentially succeed its global top-4 drug by sales, Dupixent (dupilumab). Amlitelimab, a monoclonal antibody targeting OX40L once considered a leading candidate, fell short of expectations. In contrast, Brivekimig—a nanobody-based investigational treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) that targets both TNF-α and OX40L—met its primary endpoint in a Phase 2 trial and is now emerging as Sanofi’s new strategic asset. This outcome is particularly noteworthy for Korean biotech IMBiologics, which has licensed out its TNF-α/OX40L bispecific antibody candidate 'IMB-101' to U.S.-based Navigator Medicines in a deal valued at approximately 1.3 trillion KRW. With Sanofi’s positive clinical data, attention is turning toward the potential of this shared target mechanism. Sanofi Prioritizes Brivekimig Over Amlitelimab in HS Development On April 24 (local time), Sanofi announced during its Q1 earnings call that Brivekimig had successfully met its primary endpoint in a Phase 2 clinical trial for HS. The candidate demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in HiSCR50 and other metrics. The safety profile after 28 weeks of treatment aligned with expectations, with no new adverse events observed. Sanofi confirmed it would prioritize Brivekimig over Amlitelimab for HS development going forward. After the blockbuster success of Dupixent, which generated roughly 21 trillion KRW in revenue last year, Sanofi has aggressively expanded its immunology pipeline to maintain its lead in autoimmune disease treatments. In 2021, it acquired UK-based biotech Kymab for $1.4 billion, securing the rights to Amlitelimab, which targets OX40L. However, in April this year, Amlitelimab failed to meet its primary endpoint in a Phase 2 trial for moderate asthma, falling short of expectations. Role of TNF-α and OX40L in the Body: A Complex Immune Pathway Beyond Single-Target Modulation TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor alpha) is a major cytokine involved in inflammatory responses, and its inhibition is a key strategy in treating autoimmune diseases. Globally successful drugs like Humira, Remicade, and Enbrel are TNF-α inhibitors. OX40L is a co-stimulatory molecule that binds to the OX40 receptor on T cells. It is expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), while OX40 appears on T cells. Their interaction boosts immune responses in healthy individuals, but in autoimmune patients, it leads to T cell hyperactivation and excessive cytokine release, triggering autoimmune conditions. Targeting both TNF-α and OX40L seeks to modulate complex immune responses that single-target therapies struggle to control. IMBiologics Also Sees a Positive Signal for Its Dual-Antibody Program Sanofi’s positive clinical data is considered a meaningful signal for IMBiologics, which is developing the bispecific antibody IMB-101 targeting both TNF-α and OX40L. Brivekimig’s success serves as a proof of concept (PoC) for this dual-target approach and may enhance the commercial value of similar pipelines. IMBiologics had previously licensed out IMB-101 to Navigator Medicines in June 2024 in a 1.3 trillion KRW deal covering global rights excluding China. Navigator has since received approval to begin a Phase 1b global trial for HS using IMB-101. In parallel, Huadong Medicine, the company's Chinese partner, also received approval for a Phase 1b trial in China and is preparing to begin patient enrollment across over ten institutions. A company representative from IMBiologics commented, “Sanofi’s Brivekimig showing positive Phase 2 indicators in HS gives us reason to expect favorable outcomes from IMB-101, which targets the same molecules. Moreover, as a bispecific antibody, IMB-101 may have advantages in safety and efficacy over Brivekimig, which is a nanobody.”

2025-05-08

IMBiologics Writes 1.7 Trillion KRW Tech Export Success Story — IMB-101's Straightforward Strategy Pays Off

Robust safety and efficacy data transparently presented at international conferences proves decisive Signed licensing-out deals worth 1.3 trillion KRW with Navigator Medicines and 438 billion KRW with Huadong Medicine Secured upfront payments totaling 39 billion KRW, validating commercial viability By Hyukjin Kwon │ hjkwon@yakup.com Published: April 23, 2025 06:00 │ Updated: April 23, 2025 16:17Jung In-soo, Head of Business Operations at IMBiologics, gives a presentation at “ICPI WEEK 2025” held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on April 23. ©Yakup News “Many people think there’s some special secret to licensing-out success. But in truth, there isn’t. Just one thing: solid data backed by science that proves superior safety and efficacy, and transparent sharing of this data at global conferences to build trust. That was the key driver behind our successful technology transfer.” Jung In-soo, Head of Business Operations at IMBiologics, shared the background behind the licensing-out success of IMBiologics' bispecific antibody-based autoimmune disease candidate, ‘IMB-101’, during the “1st Pharma/Bio Business Development Strategy Forum 2025,” a side event at “ICPI WEEK 2025,” held at KINTEX, Goyang on April 23. The forum was hosted by the Pharma/Bio Business Development Society under the Korea Drug Development Research Association (Chairman: Kim Jeong-jin). It served as a platform to discuss strategies for commercializing technology and advancing Korea’s bio-health industry into the global market. IMBiologics’ ‘IMB-101’ has gained attention as a rare case of a domestic biotech firm achieving back-to-back large-scale licensing deals. The success is attributed to a unique mechanism targeting both immune cell regulator OX40L and inflammatory cytokine TNF, clinically proven safety and efficacy, and a well-structured business development (BD) strategy. IMB-101 is being developed as a treatment for a range of immune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Jung stated, “Publishing IMB-101’s data transparently at major international conferences like the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) laid the groundwork for technology export.” He added, “Navigator Medicines first encountered IMB-101 at the ACR conference in November 2023 and signed the deal within about seven months. Similarly, Huadong Medicine saw the data at BioChina in September 2023 and concluded a deal about 11 months later.” Such swift technology transfers were made possible by a strategic approach aligned with global standards from the earliest negotiation stages. IMBiologics began by signing Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDA) to establish information-sharing frameworks. This was followed by preliminary due diligence (DD), exchange of Term Sheets outlining deal terms and rights, and then thorough Index DD to solidify trust necessary for contract finalization. Jung emphasized, “These deals went beyond mere contracts — they included upfront payments totaling 39 billion KRW, proving real commercial potential. Especially notable, Navigator Medicines began recruiting top talent from global pharma giants like Amgen and GSK to lead IMB-101’s clinical development after the deal was signed.” The first licensing-out deal for IMB-101 was signed in June 2024 with U.S.-based Navigator Medicines, covering global rights excluding Japan, valued at 1.3 trillion KRW. Of this, about 28 billion KRW was paid upfront. In August of the same year, a second deal worth about 438 billion KRW was signed with China’s Huadong Medicine, covering 40 Asian countries excluding Korea and Japan, with 11.6 billion KRW paid upfront. IMB-101’s clinical competitiveness also stands out. IMBiologics submitted its IND application to the FDA in June 2023 and received approval within just one month with no additional requests. Jung explained, “We collaborated with global CROs PPD and Syneos to design a hybrid Phase 1a/1b trial involving healthy adults and patients. In Phase 1a, IMB-101 demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability across 0.1–10mg/kg doses.” He added, “Only one drug-related adverse event (Grade 1) was observed, and pharmacokinetic analysis confirmed dose proportionality.” IMB-101 is currently preparing for Phase 1b clinical trials in both the U.S. and China. In preclinical studies, the drug demonstrated meaningful efficacy at one-quarter the dose of AbbVie’s Humira, showing not only anti-inflammatory effects but also suppression of autoantibody production — enhancing its potential as a broad-spectrum immune disease treatment. Jung added, “IMBiologics is now actively expanding its pipeline beyond autoimmune diseases into immuno-oncology. We are already executing strategies for our second and third licensing deals, aiming to secure global clinical data within 2–3 years and create new business opportunities through collaborations with global pharmaceutical companies.” IMBiologics currently holds a pipeline of eight follow-up candidates: three IgG-based modalities and five based on IgM and IgA. Notably, IMB-201 has been selected for the national “Scale-Up Teams” program and has received 1.2 billion KRW in research funding. IMB-401, a bispecific antibody with a cancer vaccine concept, has secured 2.5 billion KRW in government support. Meanwhile, “ICPI WEEK 2025,” Korea’s largest integrated industry exhibition — now in its 20th year — runs through April 25 at KINTEX Halls 1 and 2 in Goyang. The event showcases the latest technologies and trends across the entire value chain of the pharmaceutical, biotech, and cosmetics industries — from R&D to production, processing, packaging, and logistics. It is co-hosted by Kyungyeon Exhibition and KY Expo, with Yakup News serving as the official media partner.아이엠바이오로직스 IMB-101 임상 1a상 결과.©약업신문, 아이엠바이오로직스아이엠바이오로직스 후속 파이프라인 연구개발 현황.©약업신문, 아이엠바이오로직스

2025-05-08

What is the Background of IMBiologics' 1 Trillion Won 'Big Deal' with J&J?

■ J-Labs Focuses on BioTech <1> IMBiologicsRapid growth with technology exports in just 4 years since its establishmentReinforcing its operations this year with a "Second Founding Spirit"IMB-106 candidate drug under full-scale developmentIPO push expected by the end of this year or Q1 next yearHigh expectations from J-Labs’ 'global mentoring' [Seoul Economy]J-Labs is a biotech accelerator program run by global pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J). Since its founding in 2012, it has supported over 1,000 biotech and medical technology ventures worldwide, raising $109.4 billion (approximately 145 trillion KRW) in investment and helping 57 companies go public. Companies passing J-Labs' rigorous selection process receive services like laboratory rentals and preclinical/clinical research consulting.Ha Kyong-sik, CEO of IM Biologics, posed for a photo at the entrance of the company headquarters in Gwanggyo, Suwon, on January 22. (Photo by Seong Hyeong-ju, Seoul Economy)A biotech company has recently stunned the pharmaceutical and biotech industries by achieving a 1 trillion KRW “big deal” just four years after its establishment. The company is IMBiologics, which is developing antibody drugs using its bispecific antibody technology. In June of last year, IMBiologics licensed its autoimmune disease treatment drug 'IMB-101' to the US-based Navigator Medicine for 1.3 trillion KRW, the largest domestic deal of the first half of the year. Two months later, it also licensed its technology to China's Huadong Pharmaceutical for 4.309 trillion KRW.Ha Kyong-sik, CEO of IMBiologics, refers to IMB-101 as his “child.” IMB-101 is a drug candidate co-developed with HK inno.N and Y BioLogics. Ha, who was the head of the bio division at CJ Healthcare (HK inno.N) during the process of reducing its antibody pipeline, founded IMBiologics and acquired the technology.IMB-101 is a bispecific antibody that simultaneously activates OX40L, which activates immune cells, and inhibits TNF-α, which triggers inflammatory responses in the body. It is currently undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials in the US. Competing French pharmaceutical company Sanofi is developing a "nanobody" based on camel antibodies rather than bispecific antibodies, which experts say gives IM Biologics an edge in terms of efficacy and safety.Ha defines this year as the “second founding year” of the company. He stated, “Having already licensed out IMB-101, the project that led to the founding of the company, I’m now aiming to secure future growth drivers by generating meaningful data from new projects as if this is my second startup.” He added, “The goal is to complete one technology export every year.” Ha is particularly hopeful about an unpublished substance, “IMB-106,” as the next big candidate for licensing out. He stated, “I expect it to become the best-in-class drug for autoimmune diseases. We plan to secure the substance by the first half of the year and conduct evaluations in the second half, with full development expected to begin next year.” Since it is a substance that could attract interest from global partners, licensing out is also a possibility.The success of IMBiologics’ big deal is the result of Ha’s strategic decision-making. He explained, “Global big pharma was interested in our substances, but they wanted later-stage clinical trials. However, we faced practical limitations in terms of finances, making it difficult to carry out clinical trials on our own.” Realizing that achieving visible results with independent development was not feasible, Ha chose to license out the technology to Navigator Medicine, which could conduct the clinical trials to the stage that big pharma desired. Navigator Medicine, which focuses solely on the IMB-101 study, recently secured $100 million in funding from global venture capitalists, enabling it to proceed with clinical trials in a stable manner. Ha explained, “By quickly generating proof-of-concept (PoC) data, we plan to increase the chances of success for the drug through larger-scale licensing or M&A.”Ha has high expectations for J-Labs’ program, particularly its global networking. He said, “Receiving mentoring from J&J, a potential demand-side company, helps us understand global trends.” He also expressed satisfaction with the practical assistance he is receiving, such as guidance on increasing the value of research projects and technology export consulting.IMBiologics is now in its fifth year of operation. The company aims for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) by the end of this year or Q1 of next year, with plans to complete a technological evaluation in the first half of the year. Ha’s vision for the company in its 10th year is to become a biotech capable of launching a global new drug. He stated, “By the 10th year, I want IMBiologics to be at the level where it can launch a global new drug.”By Lee Jung-min (mindmin@sedaily.com)Photo by Seong Hyeong-ju (foru82@sedaily.com)

2025-02-10

Y-Biologics Partners with IMBiologics on Joint Research for 'Autoimmune' Antibody

Y-Biologics and IMBiologics Collaborate on 'Autoimmune' Antibody DevelopmentY-Biologics, an antibody drug development company, announced on the 8th that it has signed a joint research and development agreement with IMBiologics to develop a new target autoimmune disease antibody drug candidate.Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate to develop an antibody drug candidate targeting a protein (undisclosed) considered a major factor in autoimmune diseases.This approach is expected to suppress excessive T-cell activation and normalize the function of regulatory T-cells (Treg), effectively controlling autoimmune reactions. The company anticipates that this differentiated mechanism of action will provide new treatment options for patients with autoimmune diseases.Through this joint research, both companies aim to replicate the success of previous partnerships. Y-Biologics and IMBiologics, in collaboration with HK Innoen, developed the autoimmune disease candidate, OX40LxTNF bispecific antibody ‘IMB-101,’ which was licensed out in June last year to Navigator Medicines in the U.S. for up to $944.75 million, including a $20 million upfront payment.In August, the same asset was licensed out to Huadong Pharmaceutical in China (excluding Korea and Japan) for up to $315.5 million, including an upfront payment of $8 million.An IMBiologics representative stated, “Based on our experience and capabilities in developing immune disease antibody therapies, we are currently implementing various open innovation strategies. Through this collaboration with Y-Biologics, we aim to develop even more innovative antibody drugs than IMB-101 and achieve business success in a short time.”A Y-Biologics representative explained, “This agreement is significant as we are embarking on the development of innovative new drugs for global market entry with a trusted partner. By combining the expertise of both companies, we believe we can gain differentiated competitive advantages.”Kim Sung-min, Reportersungmin.kim@bios.co.kr

2025-01-15

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  • President(CEO) : Gyongsik Ha
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