HK inno.N said on the 20th that it has signed a joint research and development agreement with NextGen Bioscience to co-develop NXC680, a drug candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF.
The companies said the deal is aimed at combining HK inno.N’s R&D capabilities with NextGen’s work on the candidate to move it into clinical development and explore global commercialization potential.
Under the agreement, HK inno.N will handle optimization of the finished-drug formulation and run clinical trials, while NextGen will supply the active pharmaceutical ingredient and provide research data. The two companies plan to jointly conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial.
NXC680 has shown potential to treat pulmonary fibrosis in nonclinical studies and has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In South Korea, it has obtained approval for a Phase 1 investigational new drug application.
Song Geun-seok, a vice president at HK inno.N, said the company will work to increase the value of competitive candidates in areas with high unmet medical needs and, over the mid to long term, strengthen its new-drug portfolio for the global market.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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