Ubix Therapeutics

Ubix Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in June 2018 by CEO BK Seo, specializing in the development of treatments for intractable cancers through Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) technology. BK Seo has over two decades of experience in the bio/pharmaceutical industry, including roles in R&D planning, business development at Genexine, and investment management at Lifecore Partners, a venture capital firm. His background includes a B.S. in microbiology and an M.S. in immunology from Seoul National University.

The company's proprietary TPD platform, Degraducer®, utilizes the body's natural protein degradation system to eliminate disease-causing proteins, offering a different approach than traditional inhibitors. This technology involves bifunctional molecules that bring a target protein close to an E3 ligase, initiating the degradation process. Ubix Therapeutics is developing a pipeline of eight new drug candidates. Its lead candidate, UBX-303-1, is an oral Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) degrader for treating relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies. It has received approval for Phase 1 clinical trials from both the U.S. FDA and Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The company is also developing UBX-106, a SHP2 degrader for cancers dependent on MAPK signaling, and other preclinical assets in targeted and immuno-oncology.

Ubix Therapeutics' business model includes both in-house drug development and strategic partnerships. The company has engaged in multiple collaborations, including a research agreement with SK Biopharmaceuticals to develop new anti-cancer treatments and immunotherapies. In July 2024, Ubix entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Yuhan Corporation for UBX-103, an oral androgen receptor degrader for prostate cancer, in a deal valued at approximately $113.8 million. Another significant collaboration is with Debiopharm for the development of Antibody-Degraducer® Conjugates (ADeC), combining Ubix's Degraducer® with Debiopharm's Multilink™ technology to enhance drug targeting. Furthermore, the company collaborates with academic institutions like POSTECH for drug discovery and Gachon University for structural data analysis.

Financially, Ubix Therapeutics has secured significant funding, accumulating a total of KRW 63 billion (approximately $47.8 million) as of a pre-IPO fundraising round in late 2024. The company is preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the KOSDAQ, targeting the second half of 2025. In October 2024, the company was accepted into the Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS community in Korea to further advance its pipeline and build global partnerships.

Keywords: Targeted Protein Degradation, TPD, Degraducer, oncology therapeutics, refractory cancers, clinical-stage biotechnology, UBX-303-1, B-cell malignancies, Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase degrader, Antibody-Degraducer Conjugates, ADeC, UBX-103, prostate cancer treatment, SK Biopharmaceuticals, Yuhan Corporation, Debiopharm, immuno-oncology, protein degradation, E3 ligase, small molecule drugs, PROTAC, cancer research, biopharmaceuticals, drug development, KOSDAQ IPO