ProAbtech

ProAbtech, a South Korean biopharmaceutical firm, was established on September 25, 2017, by CEO Jeong-Haeng Cho. The company is headquartered in Gwangju, with an R&D and administration office in Seoul. Cho, who holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Chonnam National University and an M.S. in Biotechnology from GIST, brings valuable commercialization experience to the company, having previously led the commercialization of EPO and the first PEG-interferon in Korea. His background reflects the company's focus on translating complex biotechnological concepts into viable therapeutic options. The company's core business is the development of next-generation bio-conjugate drugs designed to offer superior treatment options for unmet medical needs. ProAbtech operates on a business model centered around research and development, funded by a series of seed and venture capital rounds, including investments from Mirae Science and Technology Holdings, MAGNA-INVESTMENT, and a strategic investment from BNC Korea. The company aims to improve patients' quality of life by creating long-acting and stable biologic drugs. This is achieved through strategic collaborations with partners in the pharmaceutical industry to advance its drug pipeline and platform technologies. ProAbtech's technological foundation lies in its two proprietary site-specific bioconjugation platforms: SelecAll™ and Albubody™. The SelecAll™ platform enables the precise incorporation of non-natural amino acids into any protein backbone. This allows for the creation of novel therapeutics with enhanced properties, addressing common issues like poor drug efficacy, toxicity, and safety concerns. The Albubody™ platform is a technology that combines the advantages of single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody fragments with the benefit of an extended drug half-life by binding to serum albumin, which also helps in minimizing immunogenicity. These platforms can be applied to a wide range of therapeutic modalities, including enzymes, peptides, proteins, Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs), and Lysosome-Targeting Chimeras (LYTACs). The company has built a diverse pipeline of drug candidates targeting various diseases. A notable candidate is PAT101, a urate oxidase for treating tophaceous gout, which has received patent registration in both Korea and the US. Other pipeline products include treatments for cancer, obesity, and sepsis. ProAbtech has actively pursued intellectual property rights, with multiple patent applications and registrations for its platform technologies and drug candidates. The company's history is marked by significant milestones, including receiving a government R&D grant through the TIPS program in 2019, opening a Seoul R&D center in 2020, and entering into agreements for non-clinical studies and manufacturing with partners like Charles River and Quratis in 2021. More recently, ProAbtech has engaged in joint R&D programs for anti-obesity assets and next-generation ADCs with BNC Korea. Keywords: ProAbtech, biopharmaceutical, South Korea, Jeong-Haeng Cho, bio-conjugate drugs, SelecAll platform, Albubody platform, site-specific bioconjugation, long-acting therapeutics, Gwangju, biologics development, PAT101, gout treatment, antibody-drug conjugates, ADC, LYTACs, protein engineering, non-natural amino acids, drug half-life extension, scFv fragments, cancer therapy, obesity treatment, metabolic diseases, bioconjugation technology, therapeutic proteins, peptide drugs, pharmaceutical R&D, BNC Korea, clinical trials, intellectual property, biotechnology startup