HLB Biostep (278650), a preclinical contract research organization (CRO), is joining hands with EcoEnTech, a company specializing in primate research resources, to expand primate-based preclinical testing services.
HLB Biostep said on the 29th that it recently signed a "memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation in primate preclinical testing services" with EcoEnTech at its Songdo Research Institute in Incheon. The signing ceremony was attended by officials from both companies, including HLB Biostep CEO Baek Sung-jin and EcoEnTech CEO Ki Hye-ran.
Under the agreement, EcoEnTech will conduct primate preclinical testing and provide HLB Biostep with biological samples obtained during the testing process, including blood, serum, plasma, and tissue. HLB Biostep will use these to analyze drug concentration, pharmacokinetics (PK), and biomarkers, and will provide clients with results and interpretation.
The two companies will also pursue joint sales and client development. In particular, HLB Biostep plans to secure exclusive domestic sales rights for the primate pharmacokinetics testing service conducted by EcoEnTech, expanding its efforts to attract domestic new drug development projects. They will also jointly explore overseas business opportunities, centered on Southeast Asia.
Through this partnership, clients will be able to receive primate testing and biological sample analysis linked within a single system. The company expects that integrating the testing and analysis processes will shorten new drug development timelines and enhance data utilization.
As the development of advanced biopharmaceuticals such as antibody drugs, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and gene and cell therapies has increased recently, demand for preclinical testing using primates, which have high physiological and genetic similarity to humans, is also rising. The importance of services that provide not only testing but also integrated analysis and data interpretation is growing as well.
HLB Biostep provides analysis services needed for new drug development, focusing on preclinical efficacy evaluation and bioanalysis. EcoEnTech specializes in the supply and breeding of primate research resources and animal testing, supporting preclinical testing for domestic and international pharmaceutical and bio companies.
"This agreement is an important turning point that expands the bioanalysis capabilities HLB Biostep has accumulated into the field of primate preclinical testing," HLB Biostep CEO Baek Sung-jin said. "We will strengthen our competitiveness in the domestic market and broaden our business area into global markets, including Southeast Asia."
"Primate preclinical testing is establishing itself as an essential research stage in the development of next-generation biopharmaceuticals," EcoEnTech CEO Ki Hye-ran stressed. "Through this agreement, we will combine our primate testing capabilities with HLB Biostep's bioanalysis technology to provide highly reliable integrated preclinical services and contribute to the global new drug development market."
