HLB Pep (196300), a peptide materials specialist, announced on the 19th that it has signed a contract with Japanese cell therapy company Reprocell to supply patient-specific neoantigen peptide active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Under the agreement, HLB Pep will produce neoantigen-derived peptides through contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services at its proprietary GMP facility. The core of the partnership lies in rapidly and accurately synthesizing customized peptides that match neoantigen sequences identified through patient-specific genetic analysis. The company's accumulated high-purity peptide manufacturing technology is expected to serve as a competitive advantage. Analysts note that HLB Pep's production capabilities, which meet Japan's stringent quality standards, position the company well for expanding global market demand.
The two companies plan to use this partnership as a springboard to accelerate expansion into global markets beyond Japan. HLB Pep has recently been proactively expanding its facilities to meet growing CDMO demand.
Personalized therapy involves selecting neoantigens—cancer-specific markers expressed uniquely in each patient—through genetic analysis, then manufacturing them in peptide form. Neoantigens are proteins newly generated during genetic mutation processes in cancer cells, characterized by their presence only on cancer cell surfaces and absence in normal cells. Targeting these markers enables selective attack on cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue, drawing attention as a next-generation precision medicine technology.
"This contract represents a meaningful achievement in gaining global recognition for our high-purity peptide manufacturing technology and GMP production capabilities," said Shim Kyung-jae, CEO of HLB Pep. "Building on our partnership with Reprocell, we plan to expand our business beyond Japan into global markets and continue strengthening our production capacity to meet growing CDMO demand."