Korean Biotech Firm Unveils Promising Preclinical Data on Novel Autoimmune Therapy at Boston Conference

News | 2025-10-30 15:03:56
[medi K / HEALTH IN NEWS] Hyundai Bioscience and its subsidiary Hyundai ADM Bio announced on Oct. 23 that they presented interim preclinical results for Penetrium at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Boston.

The study marks the first demonstration of consistent efficacy from a single mechanism and identical drug across four major autoimmune diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease.

Unlike conventional immunosuppressants, Penetrium does not inhibit the immune response. Instead, it restores the extracellular matrix (ECM) and tumor microenvironment (TME), enabling cells and the immune system to regain their natural order.

In the experiments, psoriasis improved 1.66-fold when combined with standard therapy; Crohn’s disease showed a 2.13-fold enhancement; rheumatoid arthritis achieved partial complete remission within nine days in some cases; and multiple sclerosis recorded a 62 percent increase in motor function recovery.

Hyundai Bioscience logo. (Photo provided by Hyundai Bioscience)
Hyundai Bioscience logo. (Photo provided by Hyundai Bioscience)
The findings provide experimental evidence that the root cause of autoimmune disorders lies in pathological changes to the ECM and TME—termed “pseudo-endurance”—rather than immune hyperactivity. They also highlight the potential for a single-mechanism therapy to treat multiple diseases.
Hyundai Bioscience emphasized that Penetrium’s non-immunosuppressive profile, oral administration and broad applicability could shift the treatment paradigm from suppression to restoration.

The company is pursuing U.S. FDA Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations while seeking co-development and licensing partnerships with global pharmaceutical firms. It also plans to evolve into a “Microenvironment Restoration Therapy (MERT)” platform enterprise centered on Penetrium.

Researchers described the work as the first experimental proof that one drug can address systemic autoimmune conditions, signaling potential medical innovation alongside shifts in the global therapeutics industry structure and revenue models.

Lim Hye Jung / press@themedik.kr
Copyright © 2020 mediK. All rights reserved.

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