First Korean Player to Start Covid-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials

The author is an analyst of NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at william.ku@nhqv.com. -- Ed.

 

Wielding its DNA vaccine and hyFc platform technologies, Genexine is running more clinical programs than any other domestic biotech player. The firm has announced stellar results in its clinical trials for GX-17 +Keytruda combo therapy to treat TNBC. GX-17 is showing potential to treat other kinds of cancer as well. And, Genexine is the first Korean player to begin phase I/II clinical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine—the results are expected to be announced around October.

Boasts two platform technologies

Genexine boasts DNA vaccine and hybrid Fc (hyFc) platform technologies. The firm is developing: 1) vaccines for cervical cancer and Covid-19 based on its DNA vaccine platform; and 2) Erythropoietin (EPO), GX-17 (interleukin-7), and a growth hormone based on its hyFc platform. The firm is also running three late-stage clinical pipelines and two early-stage clinical pipelines for bestin-class drugs. Backed by the expansibility of its pipelines, Genexine boasts more clinical programs than any other domestic biotech player.

GX-17 +Keytruda combo therapy clinical trials: Outstanding results

At ASCO 2020, Genexine announced the findings of its clinical trials for a GX-17 +Keytruda combo therapy for treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Among the highest dosage group of nine subjects who were administered doses of 1200μg/kg, three subjects showed partial remission (PR=33.3%), a stellar result for TNBC, for which prognosis is poor and treatment is difficult. The firm is expected to file for conditional approval with the MFDS in 2H21. In addition, Genexine is performing several clinical trials for standalone and combination therapies based on GX-17 in order to treat colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, glioblastoma, and pancreatic cancer, among others. And, Genexine’s share price momentum is to be spurred by a planned IPO for subsidiary NeoImmuneTech.

First Korean player to start Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials

Last June, Genexine became the first Korean player to begin phase I/II clinical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine—the results are expected to be announced around October. The company is forecast to begin phase II/III trials in December, with domestic approval expected to be won in 2H21. The fact that a number of players (including Moderna and AstraZeneca) are competing to develop Covid-19 vaccines should not be viewed as dimming the outlook for vaccine demand. If Genexine succeeds in developing its Covid-19 vaccine, brisk demand is expected as the Korean government is likely to stockpile the vaccine in order to improve the country’s vaccine self-sufficiency.

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