Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on March 28 that it will introduce its three novel oncology candidates, "DWP216," "DWP217," and "DWP223," at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR 2025) held in Chicago from April 25 to 30, and present four posters detailing preclinical results.
These candidates, each categorized as a targeted cancer therapy "DWP216," an immunotherapy "DWP217," and a synthetic lethality oncology drug "DWP223," will be publicly revealed on the global stage for the first time, demonstrating their potential as first-in-class treatments.
Targeted Cancer Therapy "DWP216": Precision Targeting of Mutant Cancer Cells
DWP216 is a targeted cancer therapy that focuses on the TEAD1 protein, selectively addressing NF2-mutant cancer types. By inhibiting the TEAD protein activated by NF2 gene mutations, this candidate effectively targets cancer cells while minimizing the risk of kidney damage compared to existing TEAD inhibitors. DWP216 can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), making it a promising candidate for treating brain cancers and brain metastases. It has also shown potential to enhance the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies for non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer with EGFR and KRAS mutations.
Immunotherapy "DWP217": Enhancing Immune Cell Attack on Cancer
DWP217 is an immunotherapy drug that blocks the arginase enzyme, enabling immune cells to attack cancer more effectively. It enhances the immunosuppressive environment of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and performs better than existing arginase inhibitors by boosting immune cell activity. This makes it a promising candidate for positive outcomes when used in combination with PD-1 targeting immunotherapies.
Synthetic Lethality Oncology Drug "DWP223": Targeting BRCA-Mutant Cancers
DWP223 targets DNA repair pathways in cancers with BRCA1/2 mutations using a synthetic lethality approach. It focuses on cancer cells resistant to existing PARP inhibitors by inhibiting the Polθ protein, selectively killing cancer cells. Animal studies have shown tumor reduction effects when combined with existing therapies, along with significant advantages in safety. Currently, DWP223 is in preclinical development, aiming for an investigational new drug (IND) application in 2025.
"This presentation underscores our potential to develop first-in-class cancer treatments, thanks to our drug development experience and research capabilities," said Seong-su Park, CEO of Daewoong Pharmaceutical. "We plan to accelerate the development of innovative global drugs in the oncology field."
