[Reporter's view]Skill is more important than trends

when it comes to developing new drugs

Recently, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged rapidly in the pharmaceutical industry.

 

ADC is a biopharmaceutical that combines an antibody that binds to a specific target antigen on the surface of cancer cells and a drug (payload) with a powerful cell-killing function.

 

Unlike Roche Kadcyla, which is classified as a first-generation ADC anticancer drug, which only secured indications for breast cancer, the recently launched Enhertu is proving its effectiveness by showing effectiveness in various indications, including breast cancer, stomach cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and colon cancer.

 

In line with this, the domestic biopharmaceutical industry is also challenging the ADC anticancer drug market.

 

Traditional pharmaceutical companies and the bio industry have expressed their intention to participate in ADC development.

 

This is not much different from the previous situation where cancer immunotherapy drug development was popular due to Keytruda.

 

Keytruda, a third-generation anti-cancer immunotherapy drug, is a drug that the domestic biopharmaceutical industry was committed to developing before ADC.

 

It is similar to ADC in that it has fewer side effects and can secure a variety of indications.

 

Many domestic pharmaceutical and bio companies are competing to promote that they are developing anti-cancer immunotherapy drugs such as Keytruda or confirming the effectiveness of new drug candidates by conducting clinical trials in combination with Keytruda.

 

To date, there are numerous stories of confirmed efficacy in preclinical or early clinical trials.

 

However, there is no news that it has entered late-stage clinical trials and is close to commercialization or has achieved notable technology exports.

 

The prevailing assessment is that the domestic biopharmaceutical industry has not yet demonstrated the ability to develop new drugs as much as its willingness to follow trends.

 

Most anticancer drugs from domestic companies, including Leclaza, have failed miserably in the market.

 

It is true that the domestic biopharmaceutical industry, which had not succeeded in developing such a notable anticancer drug, was following the trend and starting to develop ADCs, so it was more focused on whether it was possible than expected.

 

Currently, the industry is following the latest trends not only in ADCs and anti-cancer drugs but also in various areas such as NASH treatments and obesity treatments.

 

It cannot be denied that the research and development (R&D) costs of the domestic biopharmaceutical industry are relatively high compared to global pharmaceutical companies.

 

Accordingly, the industry should not blindly follow trends but rather distinguish between what it can do well, what areas it should challenge, and when it should collaborate.

 

I hope that the true capabilities of the domestic pharmaceutical and bio-industry will be demonstrated, rather than just raising expectations.