Shaperon Secures Japanese Patents for Papiliximab, Pioneering PD-L1/CD47 Bispecific Immunotherapy

[medi K / HEALTH IN NEWS] Shaperon, a South Korean biotechnology company, announced on Friday that three core technologies underpinning its next-generation immuno-oncology drug Papiliximab have been registered with the Japan Patent Office. With patents now secured in both South Korea and Japan, the company has established a robust global intellectual property framework across the two nations.

The newly registered patents cover a CD47 single-domain antibody, a PD-L1 single-domain antibody, and a PD-L1/CD47 bispecific antibody construct—material patents that form the foundational elements of Papiliximab. This positions Shaperon to hold exclusive rights in Japan until 2042 for the world's first NanoMab-based PD-L1×CD47 bispecific antibody platform, according to company officials. The firm plans to extend its patent filings to major markets including the United States, Europe, and China.

Papiliximab is an innovative cancer immunotherapy designed to simultaneously block the "don't eat me" signal from cancer cells via CD47 and the "don't kill me" signal via PD-L1, thereby activating both macrophages and T cells. While conventional CD47-targeting antibodies carry a risk of hemolysis due to red blood cell destruction, Shaperon's proprietary design circumvents this issue while delivering potent antitumor efficacy.

Shaperon CI (Photo courtesy of Shaperon)

The underlying NanoMab platform features an ultra-small single-chain structure, roughly one-tenth the size of traditional antibodies. This enables superior penetration into cells and dense tumor tissues, along with enhanced production efficiency, formulation stability, and adaptability for multispecific antibody development. As a result, the platform is regarded as versatile for integration with next-generation therapeutics such as mRNA therapies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and radiopharmaceutical therapies (RPTs).

Shaperon maintains its own alpaca herd in Hongcheon, a rural county in South Korea's Gangwon Province, to generate NanoMab libraries. The company employs high-throughput phage display screening to rapidly identify candidate antibodies—a process that facilitates the discovery of novel sequences, performance validation, and strong patent positioning.

A Shaperon spokesperson stated: "Following domestic registration, the Japanese patents complete the global rights framework for Papiliximab. We will accelerate the worldwide commercialization of this next-generation immuno-oncology agent." The spokesperson added that the candidate offers superior safety and efficacy compared with existing immunotherapies, fundamentally resolving hemolytic toxicity to expedite global market entry.

Kim Kuk Ju / press@themedik.kr

K-Culture&Travel

Wellness

Korean Herbal Tea Culture: A Wellness Tradition for Body and Mind

In Korea, traditional herbal teas, known as hanbangcha, are crafted from natural medicinal ingredients like jujube, ginger, licorice, schisandra, and ginseng. These teas are prepared by meticulously cleaning the ingredients and simmering them over low heat for hours to extract their therapeutic properties and aromas, according to cultural sources like ClipArt Korea. Rooted in Korean traditional medicine, or hanuihak, this practice emphasizes harmony between the body and nature, offering a holistic approach to wellness that resonates with modern health-conscious audiences.Constitutional Medicin

Wellness

Five Olive Young Masks to Rescue Your Skin From Korea’s Dry Autumn

As autumn settles over South Korea, the air turns crisp and dry, pulling moisture from the skin and leaving it tight, flushed, or flaky. Left unchecked, these small irritations can snowball into bigger troubles. For travelers touching down in Seoul—or anyone curious about the country’s beauty rituals—Olive Young, the ubiquitous K-beauty drugstore, stocks a lineup of sheet masks and pads that address exactly these seasonal gripes. Below are five standouts, each tuned to a different concern: calming redness, locking in hydration, or fading post-blemish marks. Prices reflect current Olive Youn

K-Culture & Travel

How to Navigate South Korea’s Bus System: A Traveler’s Guide

South Korea's bus system stands out globally for its efficiency and precision. In cities like Seoul, Busan, or Daegu, a single transit card lets you hop seamlessly between buses and subways.These buses run on tight schedules, with real-time arrival info available, making them a godsend for first-time visitors. That said, the color-coded routes, transit cards, and transfer rules can feel a bit labyrinthine at first.This guide is tailored for foreign travelers new to Korean buses, covering the basics right through to the etiquette locals swear by.Types of Korean Buses and Their ColorsKorea's b

K-Culture & Travel

Seoul’s Beating Heart: Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggyecheon

Cutting through the capital’s core, Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggye Square stitch together Korea’s past and present in a single, vibrant thread. For locals and travelers alike, these are the spots where “Seoul” comes alive in its purest form.History and Dignity at the King’s Gate: Gwanghwamun SquareGwanghwamun Square stretches from the grand front gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace—Gwanghwamun itself—down to the Sejong-daero intersection, the city’s ceremonial spine. At its heart stand statues of two Joseon-era giants: King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-sin. More than monuments, they