LigaChem Accelerates ADC Pipeline Amid Losses, Lonza Expands Bioconjugate Capabilities

LigaChem Biosciences is accelerating its antibody-drug conjugate pipeline overhaul by expanding research and development investment despite widening losses, while contract manufacturer Lonza has strengthened its advanced synthesis capabilities for ADC development. The Korean biotech company is pursuing a strategy of securing mid- to long-term growth through technology transfer results even at the expense of worsening profitability.

LigaChem Biosciences posted revenue of 141.5 billion won last year, up 12.4% from a year earlier, but its operating loss widened to 106.4 billion won. The company cited increased R&D expense due to building new pipelines and expanding clinical development, executing R&D investments in the 200.0 billion won range last year and planning to invest even more this year.

The company recently signed a new technology in-licensing agreement with domestic biotech corporation Paion Biotechnology, which is developing a therapy that restores function by transplanting healthy mitochondria into damaged muscle cells. This deal came just days after the company trimmed its existing pipeline by returning one antibody it had in-licensed from an existing partner, citing a mismatch with its development direction.

Founded in 2006, LigaChem Biosciences has built a business model of in-licensing antibodies from outside, applying its in-house ADC platform "ConjuAll," and then out-licensing to global pharmaceutical companies. To date, it has signed a total of 12 technology transfer deals worth about 9.6 trillion won.

Major pipeline milestones are scheduled this year, with "LCB14," a breast cancer treatment candidate transferred to China's Fosun Pharma, in phase 3 and expected to file for marketing approval in the second half. "LCB84," licensed by Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, is set to enter phase 2 in the second half. "LCB71," a blood cancer treatment candidate transferred to China's CStone, is slated to announce phase 1b results in June, and partners including the United Kingdom's Iksuda Therapeutics and the Czech Republic's SOTIO are also preparing to submit investigational new drug applications within the year.

Meanwhile, Lonza has strengthened its advanced synthesis offering to increase phase-appropriate support for the discovery and development of antibody-drug conjugates and other bioconjugates. The offering includes the full integration of the ADC technology platform, which comprises the proprietary GlycoConnect antibody conjugation technology, HydraSpace polar spacer technology, and a portfolio of toxSYN linker payloads. These site-specific technologies, originally obtained by Lonza through the acquisition of Synaffix in 2023, are aimed at enhancing the efficacy and tolerability of ADCs.

These technologies have recently been expanded to include dual‑payload ADC technology, which enables the development of next‑generation ADCs designed to address tumor heterogeneity and drug-induced resistance. The dual‑payload approach enables attachment of two complementary cytotoxic agents to a single antibody, with controllable payload ratios.

Lonza's Oss, Netherlands site has expanded its capabilities through increased investment in laboratory infrastructure, enabling R&D activities across ADCs and emerging bioconjugate modalities, such as antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates, targeted lipid nanoparticles, and protein-protein conjugates. The Oss site now combines small‑scale bioconjugate prototyping as a service with newly established scale‑up capabilities to deliver pilot toxicology material, while providing on‑site process and analytical development.