PharmAbcine Enters Partnership with Thermo Fisher

PharmAbcine Inc. has entered into a strategic partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific for the development and manufacturing of PMC-309, a next-generation immune checkpoint blockade to treat cancer.

Under this agreement, PharmAbcine will take advantage of Thermo Fisher's Quick to Clinic integrated service offering, a program that accelerates drug development for IND submission for Phase I.

PMC-309 is a novel fully human monoclonal IgG targeting unique epitope of human VISTA (V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation) primarily expressed on MDSC (myeloid-derived suppressor cells). It can provide a promising immunotherapeutic strategy to improve the antitumor activity through inhibition of VISTA-positive immunosuppressive cell activities. 

"Due to the limitation of response rate and drug resistance of all marketed PD1/PDL1 targeting  immuno oncology drugs, next generation immuno oncology drug with new modality is desperately needed," said Dr. Jin-San Yoo, CEO of PharmAbcine. "We are excited about the progress we have made with PMC-309 and strongly believe that PMC-309 will fulfill the gap in immuno oncology drug landscape."

The drug product of PMC-309 for clinical trial will be developed at Thermo Fisher's Princeton, NJ, USA and the Brisbane's site in Australia will facilitate for the drug substances. PharmAbcine is planning to initiate IND enabling studies this year and submit global IND in 2021.