iLeadBMS Announces Results of TPD Molecular Glue Research of IL2106 (CDK12 Molecular Glue and Cyclin-K degrader) at ESMO TAT 2024 

DONGTAN, KOREA, February 27, 2024 

iLeadBMS, a spin-off biotech from Ildong Pharmaceutical Group, announced on the 27th that it presented the latest results from the Target Protein Degradation (TPD) research involving its CDK12 molecular glue program (IL2106) at European Society for Medical Oncology targeted Anticancer Therapies (ESMO TAT) 2024.

'IL2106' can be categorized as a molecular glue within the TPD treatment field, which was independently developed by iLeadBMS, and it targets Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 12 (CDK12), a protein that regulates the expression of genes associated with cancer induction. CDK12 is known to form a complex with Cyclin-K, a protein involved in cell cycle regulation which affects growth and metastasis of cancerous cells in incurable cancers.

Research results showed that ‘IL2106’ not only binds to CDK12 and effectively inhibits its activity, but also, selectively degrades Cyclin-K using the body’s protein degradation mechanism.

According to the poster presentation, ‘IL2106’ demonstrated very strong growth inhibition of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative gastric cancer cells, through degradation of the target proteins in the in vitro experiments.

In a TNBC model study using experimental mice, it was observed that in animals given oral administration of ‘IL2106’, the target protein in the tumor was degraded effectively.

In addition, in animal models using transplants of TNBC and metastatic HER2-negative gastric cancer cells, there were significant decreases in the size of the tumors and rate of cancer cell metastasis in the treatment groups where animals were administered with ‘IL2106’ when compared with the control group.

A company representative from iLeadBMS explained, “The TPD field has been receiving a lot of attention from the multi-national pharmaceutical companies recently as TPD is different from small molecule therapeutics in that small molecule drugs are only able to inhibit the function of proteins that cause cancer.”

In particular, he emphasized, “‘IL2106’ is a drug that can eliminate the actual causative protein of a specific cancer, and therefore, we anticipate that it will not only enable a more fundamental treatment but also, potentially overcome the resistance problems.” In addition, he added, “As an oral treatment, it can offer commercial competitiveness and ease of use in terms of patience compliance.”

About iLeadBMS
Established in 2020, iLeadBMS specializes in the discovery and development of novel drugs, with an R&D pipeline targeting fibrotic diseases, protease inhibitors, solid tumors, and neurodegenerative diseases, and has been very active with clinical development, securing investments, and other business activities.