ABL Bio (298380) is accelerating its bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development by strengthening its ADC research and development organization. The move is interpreted as a strategic effort to enhance ADC R&D capabilities, as the company positions bispecific ADCs as its next-generation growth driver centered on its U.S. subsidiary.
According to ABL Bio's business report released on the 22nd, the company has established a new "ADC Technology" team within its R&D organization. Previously operated as a department under the R&D team alongside toxicology, in vivo efficacy evaluation, and neuroscience research teams, the unit has now been elevated to an independent organization through this restructuring. The company also created a new "Antibody Discovery" department to strengthen early-stage antibody discovery capabilities.
The organizational restructuring coincides with key talent recruitment. Last year, ABL Bio hired Moon Sung-joo, former Chief Strategy Officer who oversaw ADC business development at IntoCell, as Senior Research Fellow (Executive Vice President). Moon currently leads ABL Bio's overall ADC R&D operations.
ABL Bio is accelerating bispecific ADC development centered on its U.S. subsidiary Neox Bio. Bispecific ADCs are characterized by their ability to simultaneously target two different antigens, selectively binding to cancer cells and rapidly delivering payloads into cells. The technology is considered a next-generation advancement that can improve targeting accuracy and therapeutic efficiency compared to conventional single-antibody ADCs.
Development results for bispecific ADCs are materializing. Recently, bispecific ADC candidates "ABL206" and "ABL209" received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Phase 1 clinical trials. A company official stated, "We are establishing optimal clinical strategies with Neox Bio and are targeting the release of early Phase 1 clinical data next year."
R&D investment continues to expand steadily. R&D expenditure increased from 53 billion won in 2023 to 74.5 billion won in 2024, and further rose to 93 billion won in 2025.
