HyundaiBio·HyundaiADM First to Identify Penetrium Pseudo Resistance Research Accepted by AACR

[Shin-Min Joon, Edaily Reporter] Penetrium a novel anticancer drug candidate jointly developed by Hyundai Bioscience and HyundaiADMBio has been selected for presentation at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics 2025 one of the world’s most prestigious oncology conferences. The acceptance underscores global recognition of a new therapeutic paradigm in cancer treatment.

Hyundai Bioscience and Hyundai ADM Bio CI.

The selected abstract titled ‘Disrupting the oncobiosphere CAF targeting therapy with Penetrium™ reverses pseudo resistance in tumors’ presents groundbreaking findings that challenge decades of conventional cancer theories.

The research overturns the long held belief that genetic mutations in tumor cells are the main cause of treatment failure. Instead it identifies cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and the fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) they produce as the structural barrier responsible for resistance a phenomenon the researchers have termed ‘pseudo resistance’.

Penetrium a nanohybrid formulation based on niclosamide does not target cancer cells directly. Rather it selectively eliminates pathological CAF dismantling the protective tumor microenvironment and reactivating the effectiveness of existing chemotherapy and immunotherapy agents. Preclinical studies have shown that Penetrium converts ‘cold’ tumors into ‘hot’ ones thereby enhancing immune response. Moreover the treatment spares normal cells significantly reducing toxicity and side effects a major benefit for patients.

Experts in the biotech industry view the AACR’s selection as a sign that Penetrium has transitioned from a corporate claim to a globally recognized scientific topic worthy of formal discourse. They regard this as a correction of 80 years of misdirected cancer research and a milestone in the rise of structure-based therapy.

The drug has demonstrated consistent efficacy across preclinical models of difficult to treat solid tumors including pancreatic cancer triple negative breast cancer, and non small cell lung cancer. Its developer C&Pharm has already secured approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials targeting prostate cancer with the first trial expected to launch later this year. If successful, it would mark the first clinical application of a pseudo resistance targeting strategy worldwide.

Industry observers describe Penetrium as the most significant innovation in cancer therapy since the advent of immunotherapy. While immunotherapy awakens T cells to attack tumors Penetrium clears the tumor microenvironment revitalizing conventional treatment modalities.

“This is a meaningful acknowledgment by the global scientific community of a novel mechanism in cancer therapy” said Jo Won dong newly appointed CEO of Hyundai ADM Bio. “We plan to accelerate both clinical development and commercialization moving forward.”

신민준 (adonis@edaily.co.kr)