Ubix and Yuhan Announce Exclusive License for UBX-103 to Treat Metastatic Prostate Cancer

SEOUL, South Korea I July 01, 2024 I Ubix Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on innovative cancer treatments through targeted protein degradation (TPD), announced a significant collaboration with Yuhan. This exclusive license agreement grants Yuhan the global rights to develop and commercialize Ubix's preclinical androgen receptor (AR) degrader program, UBX-103.

The agreement terms include an upfront payment to Ubix exceeding 3.6 million US dollars, equivalent to 5 billion Korean won. Additionally, Ubix stands to gain up to 105 million US dollars (145 billion Korean won) through various developmental, regulatory, and commercial milestones. A high single-digit royalty on sales is also part of the deal, alongside the potential for profit sharing if sublicensing occurs.

UBX-103, an orally bioavailable AR degrader, shows promise against prostate cancer. Prostate cancer growth and survival are driven by the androgen receptor, and while androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains the standard treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, tumors often evolve into castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer. This resistance typically results from AR gene amplification or treatment-induced mutations. Preclinical studies have highlighted UBX-103’s effectiveness, showing its ability to degrade AR with a picomolar DC50 (half-maximal degradation concentration). It also effectively combats a range of treatment-induced resistance mutations, even inhibiting tumor growth resistant to next-generation hormonal therapies in in vivo models.

Wook-Je Cho, CEO of Yuhan, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, "The two companies will enhance technology exchange and collaborative efforts to develop next-generation therapies leveraging targeted protein degradation. This aims to offer better treatment opportunities for patients with limited options under current therapeutics, fostering innovative transformations in the fields of medicine and life sciences."

BK Seo, CEO of Ubix Therapeutics, expressed confidence in Yuhan’s capabilities, saying, “Yuhan is a distinguished pharmaceutical company with globally recognized achievements in R&D and the commercialization of innovative drugs. Through this partnership, we are confident that Yuhan’s expertise and commitment will enhance the development and potential commercialization of UBX-103.”

Ubix Therapeutics is renowned for its work in TPD therapeutics. Their proprietary platform technology, Degraducer®, utilizes the body's natural protein degradation mechanisms to eliminate diseased proteins, effectively neutralizing disease-causing pathways. Besides UBX-103, Ubix’s pipeline includes UBX-303-1, a BTK degrader aimed at treating relapsed or refractory B cell malignancies, along with numerous other degraders in various stages of research and development in targeted and immune-oncology.

This collaboration between Ubix Therapeutics and Yuhan represents a significant step towards advancing cancer therapy, particularly in areas where current treatments fall short. By pooling their expertise and resources, both companies aim to bring cutting-edge treatments to market, potentially transforming the landscape of oncology therapeutics.