October 23, 2023 – Canton Biologics announced the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with IMBiologics of South Korea. The two parties will collaborate on the development and expression platform for IgM molecules, including but not limited to co-marketing/joint business development, CDMO projects, and licensing in/out.
This collaboration is based on Canton Biologics’ high‑yield, high‑purity, high‑potency IgMax® platform technology and IMBiologics’ ePENDY® platform technology. Canton Biologics and IMBiologics will join forces to contribute to the high‑quality development of the biopharmaceutical industry in China, South Korea, and around the world.
Dr. Ha Gyongsik, Founder & CEO of IMBiologics (left), and Dr. Shen Xiao, Founder & CEO of Canton Biologics (right), signed the cooperation agreement as representatives of their respective companies.
Dr. Shen Xiao
CEO of Canton Biologics
“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to cooperate with IMBiologics. ‘ePENDY’ is an innovative technology with unique advantages in the development of novel immunomodulatory drugs. Canton Biologics will use its IgMax® platform technology to assist with the CMC development and scale‑up production of ePENDY platform molecules. At the same time, I look forward to our collaboration in the IgM field, where we can leverage novel antibody platform technologies to benefit patients worldwide in the near future.”
Dr. Ha Gyongsik
CEO of IMBiologics
“We are delighted to collaborate with Canton Biologics. This partnership represents the first global collaboration for our company’s ePENDY® platform technology and also demonstrates market recognition of its excellence. Through this collaboration, many Chinese companies will be able to develop new drugs using IMBiologics’ ePENDY platform. We see this partnership as the first step into the Chinese and global markets and look forward to establishing collaborations with more companies in the future.”
About the IgMax® Platform
The IgMax® platform is Canton Biologics’ independently developed IgM expression and development platform, characterized by high yield, high purity, and high potency, with a clear technology transfer pathway that meets large‑scale production demands. The platform has successfully enabled a client’s IgM antibody development project to obtain IND approval. (Click to learn more: *Creating the Future | Canton Biologics Develops a Leading High‑Yield IgM Platform Reaching 8 g/L*)
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High‑expression IgM vector: Through a specially designed vector system, cell line yields can reach 8 g/L, with uniform IgM conformation. The pentamer proportion approaches 100%, with no hexamer formation, avoiding downstream hexamer removal challenges from the start.
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IgM process development capability: Downstream purification includes both affinity and non‑affinity chromatography routes, both achieving >97% purity and >55% recovery, achieving an ideal balance between process cost and efficiency.
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IgM physicochemical analysis capability: Canton Biologics has completed comprehensive quality analysis and characterization of pentameric and hexameric ultra‑large protein molecules, including complete characterization of aggregate conformation, light chain/heavy chain/J‑chain integrity, 98 disulfide bonds, 2 free sulfhydryl groups, 51 N‑glycosylation sites, and dominant glycoforms at each site – greatly accelerating the application of IgM in the biopharmaceutical field.
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IgM biochemical analysis capability: Canton Biologics can assess IgM activity and potency using methods such as ELISA binding assays, pseudovirus in vitro neutralization tests, and SPR technology.
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IgM formulation development capability: Canton Biologics’ formulation platform can provide stable, long‑term, liquid or lyophilized formulation development for IgM antibodies.
About the ePENDY® Platform
As the only IgM antibody R&D company in South Korea, IMBiologics has developed a next‑generation IgM molecular format (patented): the ePENDY® platform.
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Compared to the IgM platform of the global leader IGM Bioscience, it offers:
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Higher biological activity
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Longer half‑life
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Simpler downstream processing
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Significantly improved efficacy
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Reduced side effects
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Broad expandability of indications:
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Expands the possibilities for developing various agonist and antagonist candidates for immunotherapy
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Indications can be extended to ophthalmic diseases, infectious diseases, and mucosal immunity‑related diseases
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Market value:
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High interest from major global pharmaceutical companies – Sanofi entered a $6 billion agreement with IGM Bioscience (March 2022)
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