- Evotec SE has secured a US$4.5 million grant from the Korea Institute of Advanced Technology (KIAT) to develop biologic therapies for lung diseases, focusing on asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
- The collaboration with Yonsei University and Zymedi will focus on preclinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic antibodies targeting tRNA synthetases, an emerging therapeutic target class.
Evotec SE has announced it will receive a US$4.5 million grant from the Korea Institute of Advanced Technology (KIAT) to support the development of novel biologic therapies for lung diseases, specifically asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The funding will back the preclinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic antibodies targeting tRNA synthetases, a promising therapeutic target for diseases with a high unmet medical need.
The project is a collaboration between Evotec, Yonsei University, and Korean biotech company Zymedi. The three parties will work together to advance antibody-based treatments for asthma and IPF, two diseases that currently have limited treatment options. Evotec will provide its expertise in antibody development, engineering, and manufacturing technologies, along with integrated preclinical R&D platforms to drive drug discovery and development for fibrosis and lung diseases.
Dr Thomas Hanke, EVP & Head of Academic Partnerships at Evotec, commented on the collaboration, saying, “The synergies between the three parties supported by the KIAT grant showcase how international collaborations can help accelerate the development of novel therapies for diseases with a high unmet medical need.”
Professor Sunghoon Kim, Director at Yonsei University’s Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Biomedical Research, added, “The previously untapped biology of tRNA synthetases provides a versatile route for new drug development. I am very excited to launch the project with Evotec to develop novel therapeutic antibodies targeting disease-causing activities by these enzymes.”
This project aims to advance first-in-class antibodies targeting a new mechanism of action in tRNA synthetase biology to treat IPF and non-type 2 asthma, diseases that are in critical need of new therapeutic options to improve patient outcomes.