GI Innovation, Korean biotech, has begun patient dosing for a subcutaneous version of its experimental cancer drug GI-102 at major US medical centers, marking South Korea’s first locally-developed immunotherapy to be tested in this format.
The Phase 1 trial is running at 14 institutions including Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, alongside prominent Korean hospitals. The new formulation reduces treatment time from several hours to just 10 minutes.
The development follows similar moves by pharmaceutical giants to create injectable versions of blockbuster cancer drugs like Keytruda and Opdivo. Earlier intravenous trials of GI-102 showed a 30% response rate in advanced melanoma patients who had exhausted other treatment options.
The first patient at Samsung Medical Center has shown stable condition after receiving the injection, according to oncology professor Kim Seung-tae. He said patients strongly prefer the subcutaneous delivery method.
GI Innovation expects to complete the initial trial phase by February 2025. The company’s chief strategy officer Jang Myung-ho said multiple global pharmaceutical firms have expressed interest in the drug’s clinical data, potentially strengthening its position in licensing negotiations.
