An international academic conference showcasing K-drug technology will be held in South Korea. The industry anticipates that the event, marking the first time in 20 years that Seoul will host the conference, will enhance the global recognition of domestic cancer drugs and stimulate discussions on technology exports with multinational pharmaceutical companies.
According to industry sources, the 2026 World Lung Cancer Conference (WCLC 2026), the largest academic event in the field of lung cancer, will take place from September 12 to 15 at COEX in Seoul. Thousands of researchers, clinicians, and pharmaceutical representatives from around the world are expected to attend. Domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies plan to unveil data on their cancer drug pipelines as they aim for a stronger foothold in the global market.
Yuhan Corporation will present clinical data for its next-generation non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) targeted therapy candidate, YH42946, which follows its domestic lung cancer drug, Lecraza (Lazertinib). This tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targets HER2-mutant NSCLC and is referred to as the company's next growth driver, dubbed 'post-Lecraza.' The company recently announced that it confirmed safety and promising efficacy signals in clinical phases 1 and 2 during its research and development day.
Boronoi will showcase follow-up data for VRN11, which was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in June. The company plans to detail its strategy for accelerated approval based on clinical phase 2 data, particularly focusing on a cohort of patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC accompanied by brain metastases.
Abion will invite global lung cancer clinical experts to share results from its global phase 2 clinical trial of its core pipeline, the NSCLC treatment Babamekip (ABN401), at the conference. An Abion representative stated, "We will continue discussions on technology transfer for Babamekip and actively promote our cancer drug development capabilities in the global market, especially after securing a recent U.S. patent for iRAC."
Penitrium Bio will introduce its tumor microenvironment (TME) modulation mechanism. Data will be presented showing how it reverses drug resistance induced by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in organoid models, restoring sensitivity to gefitinib and gemcitabine. Jo Won-dong, CEO of Penitrium Bio, explained, "The key is overcoming resistance by modulating the TME, and the next step is to validate this with actual patient data."
STCube will present early data from its first-in-class immune-oncology drug, Nelmastobat, targeting BTN1A1 in a phase 2 clinical trial (STCUBE-004). The results indicate a manageable safety profile when combined with docetaxel in patients with high BTN1A1 expression (TPS 50% or more) NSCLC. Yoon Seung-han, Chief Scientific Officer of STCube, noted, "We will also disclose additional key efficacy data from the NSCLC phase 2 study during the poster presentation, as the patient selection strategy based on BTN1A1 is becoming more defined, enhancing the clinical value of Nelmastobat after colorectal cancer."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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