AprilBio unveils new pipelines for bispecific antibodies, siRNA, and ADCs, targeting early-stage licensing deals.
Parallel development fueled by 430 billion won in R&D capital; APB-I-005 draws interest from multiple global pharmaceutical giants.
"Our goal is to bring all three assets to the licensing negotiation table before submitting Investigational New Drug (IND) applications by 2027," said Cha Sang-hoon, CEO of AprilBio, during the 'AprilBio R&D Day 2026' held at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 9th.
CEO Cha emphasized that simply securing large amounts of cash does not inherently increase corporate value, noting that the speed at which capital is converted into tangible business outcomes is what truly matters.
At the company's first-ever R&D Day, three new drug candidates were unveiled: bispecific antibodies, small interfering RNA (siRNA), and antibody-drug conjugates (ADC). The company plans to shift its focus from autoimmune-centric antibody development to metabolic diseases and oncology, utilizing its 430 billion won R&D war chest to accelerate commercialization.
The strategy marks a transition from a sequential development model—limited by research resources—to a parallel R&D system that develops multiple drugs simultaneously while incorporating promising external technologies.
Pushing for Early Licensing of Three New Candidates
The newly unveiled pipeline includes the autoimmune treatment 'APB-I-005', the dyslipidemia treatment 'APB-O-001', and the oncology treatment 'APB-A-001'.
APB-I-005 is a bispecific antibody that simultaneously inhibits TL1A and IL-23p19, targets currently gaining significant attention in the global pharmaceutical industry. Preclinical animal models have demonstrated its efficacy in reducing inflammation and tissue damage.
Notably, APB-I-005 has already attracted interest from multiple global pharmaceutical companies. During the Q&A session, the company revealed that several global firms are closely evaluating the candidate's immunogenicity risks and the feasibility of high-concentration subcutaneous (SC) injection formulations. Follow-up discussions are ongoing to review Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) and toxicity test results.
APB-O-001 is a GalNAc-based dual-target siRNA treatment developed in collaboration with the Korean biotech firm Curigin. It simultaneously inhibits PCSK9 and APOC3, which are involved in LDL cholesterol regulation and triglyceride metabolism, respectively.
APB-A-001 is an ADC treatment utilizing the next-generation REMAP platform to target both c-Met and VEGF. It is designed to target cancer cells while inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, showing superior tumor suppression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) models compared to existing c-Met targeting ADCs.
Accelerating Development with 430 Billion Won in Funding
The company’s early licensing strategy is supported by substantial R&D funding and next-generation platform technologies. As of the third quarter of this year, AprilBio has secured approximately 430 billion won in R&D capital, including 346.8 billion won raised through a capital increase involving TKG Group and IMM Investment.
The foundation for this expansion lies in the existing half-life extension platform 'SAFA' and the next-generation multi-target platform 'REMAP'. While SAFA has successfully led to licensing deals with Lundbeck (Denmark) and Evommune (USA), REMAP allows for the binding of up to four therapeutic molecules, broadening the scope to include ADCs and antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs).
The critical factor for AprilBio will be shortening its licensing cycle. While the company previously took three years between its 2021 and 2024 deals, it now aims to accelerate commercialization by developing multiple candidates in parallel and engaging with global partners from the earliest stages of development.
However, challenges remain. The clinical performance of previously licensed assets, such as APB-A1, which saw development halted for thyroid eye disease (TED) following disappointing clinical results, highlights the inherent uncertainties in milestone-based revenue. Ultimately, the success of AprilBio's expansion strategy will depend on whether its current R&D momentum can translate into concrete, high-value licensing agreements by 2027.
