Wellmarker Bio announced on May 11, 2022 that its immunotherapeutic antibody "WM-A1", an anti-cancer treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients has been selected as the KDDF-funded program.

This program has been initially selected by the Korea Drug Development Fund as an appropriate candidate drug in 2018. After successfully completing Pharmacology, DMPK and pilot toxicity testing, the WM-A1 has been proudly selected once more as a clinical candidate by the KDDF this year, having been put forward to precede into preclinical studies. 

WMBIO's second leading pipeline, WM-A1 is a novel therapeutic antibody with immunotherapeutic effects in NSCLC(Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer). WM-A1 has demonstrated highly remarkable immunotherapeutic anti-tumor efficacy in PBMC (Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell) humanized model for NSCLC patients with negative or low PD-L1 expression. 

Currently, WM-A1’s clinical samples are manufactured by Samsung Biologics(KRX 207940) and it is under its pre-clinical study with Charles River, a widely recognized CRO (Contract Research Organization).

"We are making a good progress advancing WM-A1 into preclinical stage, manufacturing clinical samples, conducting GLP-tox studies along with biomarker analysis(screening both tissue and liquid biopsy)” said a researcher. “We are confident in our ability to advance our programs into the second half of this year and by then, we expect to complete the IND submission. We are also planning to expand our indications to address the unmet medical needs aiming to quickly create a portfolio of breakthrough medicines”.