SillaJen Inc. is breaking new ground in cancer drug development by using organoids and microphysiological system (MPS) technology to determine optimal dosing for combination therapies.
The South Korean biotechnology company plans to apply for regulatory approval in Korea and the US during Q2 to test its cancer drug candidate BAL0891 in combination with the immunotherapy drug Tevimbra, company officials said.
BAL0891 targets two key proteins—TTK and PLK1—that cancer cells depend on for proliferation. By inhibiting both proteins simultaneously, the drug causes cancer cells to begin dividing but ultimately fail and die. Preclinical studies show effectiveness against multiple cancer types including triple-negative breast, endometrial, and colorectal cancers.
In June 2024, SillaJen partnered with San Diego-based Qureator to assess the synergy between BAL0891 and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Qureator, co-founded by Seoul National University professor Jeon Noo-li, specializes in creating 3D human-like tumor environments on lab chips.
Testing of BAL0891 with Keytruda in triple-negative breast cancer models demonstrated a 30% increase in efficacy compared to using BAL0891 alone, according to Qureator’s head of research.
“We will determine the best dose for phase 2 trials based on data from earlier patient studies and new findings from our organoid models,” a SillaJen official said.
The company plans to present additional findings at next month’s American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in Chicago.
