HTnB envisions development of nano ointment for cancer treatment

Choi Seung-hong, professor of digital healthcare at Seoul National University’s School of Transdisciplinary Innovations and CEO of startup HTnB Inc., aims to develop unprecedented drugs that help reduce side effects of cancer treatment.

“Cancer patients often suffer from hair loss, intestinal damage, and severe skin burns after undergoing radiation therapy,” Choi said, in a recent interview with Maeil Business Newspaper. “I began my research out of an urgent need to solve this problem.”

Choi explained the background of his drug development efforts aimed at reducing radiation therapy side effects.

“Even with just an ointment or suppository, we can protect the intestines and skin from radiation and help repair damaged tissues. Our goal is to produce successful clinical trial results within five years to prove that our treatment helps patients.”

A former radiologist who specialized in diagnosing brain tumors and strokes, Choi repeatedly witnessed the harsh side effects of radiation therapy firsthand. He recalled patients whose skin turned black, whose damaged esophagus prevented them from swallowing food, and who even suffered peritonitis from intestinal perforations. This gave him a strong sense of mission - someone had to solve this problem.

In the early 2010s, Choi collaborated with renowned nanomaterials expert Professor Hyeon Taeg-hwan at Seoul National University to develop a nanomaterial-based MRI contrast agent, with the duo publishing their results in the prestigious journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.

Building on that experience, Choi expanded into therapeutic nanotechnology research, eventually founding HTnB in 2022.

HTnB’s core technology is based on ceria nanomaterials, which have the ability to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during radiation therapy. ROS are a major cause of DNA destruction and collateral damage to healthy tissues.

“Conventional antioxidants like vitamin C react only once and disappear, but ceria behaves like an enzyme, repeatedly eliminating ROS,” Choi said. “With sustained effects, we can prevent conditions like radiation-induced proctitis and skin damage.”

In an unusual turn for a startup, the U.S. government reached out first. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognized the potential of HTnB’s drug candidate in 2024 and signed a joint development agreement with the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute under the U.S. Department of Defense.

Under the deal, HTnB supplies the candidate compound, AFRRI handles preclinical testing, and NIAID provides funding.

“The U.S. government must secure effective medical countermeasures for radiation and nuclear emergencies,” Choi said. “If an innovative new drug emerges, there will be an ongoing demand to maintain stockpiles through bulk procurement contracts.”

Choi noted that with this collaboration with NIAID, his company is developing the candidate drug, and once safety and efficacy are proven, it will receive broad government-level support for regulatory approval and clinical trials.

HTnB’s lead therapeutic target is radiation proctitis. More than 60 percent of pelvic cancer patients suffer rectal damage after radiation therapy, but no preventive or therapeutic drugs exist currently. HTnB is currently developing a suppository formulation in the preclinical stage and aims to submit an investigational new drug (IND) application by 2026.

A second pipeline, an injectable drug for sepsis, is also in development. Sepsis is largely driven by cytokine storms from bacterial infections, however there are no direct-blocking treatments as of yet.

“By reducing ROS, we can break the vicious cycle of sepsis and improve survival rates,” Choi said.

Another promising indication is hair loss. Brian tumor patients often suffer greatly from radiation-induced alopecia, which affects both appearance and quality of life.

“Until now, the only answer we could give was that radiation-related hair loss is unavoidable,” Choi said. “But with a topical ointment formulation, HTnB has identified a potential solution to this problem. It could even be used like sunscreen as a protective agent for people repeatedly exposed to natural radiation, such as airline crew.”

Future research tasks include wound-healing therapies and dental implant applications, as ceria nanomaterials also show antibacterial effects.

“We plan to develop ceria into a platform material that spans both drugs and medical devices,” Choi said.

He noted that his company will aim to pursue an IPO within five years, based on revenue and clinical milestones.

“Our ultimate goal is to tackle some of medicine’s toughest challenges with unprecedented new drugs - and save lives.”