Qurient Co., Ltd.

SEONGNAM-SI, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Qurient Co. Ltd. (KRX: 115180), a clinical-stage biotech company based in Korea, entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to evaluate Qurient’s proprietary CDK7 inhibitor, Q901, in combination with an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) targeting tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TROP2) with topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload for the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and other relapsed solid tumors. Q901 is a highly selective CDK7 inhibitor under Phase 1/2 clinical development in the United States and South Korea. Qurient demonstrated Q901’s main mechanism of action as transcriptional inhibition of essential genes for tumor progression, including genes involved in DNA damage repair response, which led to strong synergy with a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (Ref: DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2024-5712). These results are consistent with prior findings from Dr. Anish Thomas’ team at NCI, which revealed a synergistic mechanism between CDK7 inhibition and topoisomerase 1 inhibition (Ref: DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-21-0891). Under this CRADA, NCI and Qurient will collaborate on an NCI-sponsored Phase 1/2 clinical study of Q901 in combination with the TROP2-ADC in SCLC and other relapsed solid tumors, starting from combination dose escalation and evaluating the safety, efficacy, and potential synergy of this novel combination. This collaboration is focused on development and evaluation of this innovative therapy for patients with extensive stage SCLC. "The collaboration between the NCI and Qurient is based on the science discovered through independent research conducted by each institution," said Kiyean Nam, Ph.D., CEO of Qurient. "We hope the new combination therapy will help patients with small cell lung cancer, where current therapeutic options are limited." About Q901 Q901 is a highly selective covalently binding small molecule CDK7 inhibitor under Phase 1/2 clinical development. Q901 demonstrated strong tumor growth inhibition in multiple cancer models including HR+ breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and small cell lung cancer as a single agent, as well as in combination with other therapies. Q901 in combination with fulvestrant is in a clinical trial for HR+ breast cancer patients who are refractory to CDK4/6 inhibitor and estrogen therapy combination. About Qurient Qurient is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in South Korea and is listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX 115180). Qurient focuses on the development of novel therapeutics from discovery to human proof-of-concept stages through virtual R&D project management platform. For more information, please visit .

Telacebec will be developed to treat tuberculosis and few non-tuberculosis mycobacteria infections. Credit: Department of Pathology, Calicut Medical college / Wikimedia. South Korean biotechnology company Qurient has entered a licence agreement with TB Alliance for the development and commercialisation of telacebec (Q203). Under the deal, TB Alliance will have the exclusive global license to develop and market telacebec except in Russia, South Korea, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. The first-in-class orally available investigational drug, Telacebec blocks Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth by inhibiting cytochrome bc1 complex. It will be developed to treat tuberculosis (TB) and other non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) infections. In preclinical and clinical studies, the drug showed potent efficacy against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB. It was successfully evaluated in Phase IIa early bactericidal activity (EBA) study for the treatment of TB. In March 2020, the findings from the trial were published in The New England Journal of Medicine . Qurient CEO Kiyean Nam said: “As telacebec’s unique mechanism of action of blocking energy metabolism of the Mycobacterium can address all types of TB, including drug-resistant TB, we expect telacebec to potentially become an essential component of drug combination regimens for the treatment of TB. “We believe telacebec will greatly contribute to the global efforts to combating the TB pandemic, which remains a serious public health challenge worldwide. “Our partnership with the TB Alliance will accelerate the widespread availability of telacebec and bring it to those in need.” The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Designation to telacebec. The drug was also found to be effective against buruli ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans), a chronic, necrotising disease that affects the skin and sometimes bone. TB Alliance president and CEO Mel Spigelman said: “New drugs like telacebec are urgently needed in the fight against TB as well as certain NTM infections – compounds with potentially impactful novel mechanisms of action can have a significant benefit in combating the TB pandemic. “We look forward to advancing this new compound as part of combination regimens that could yield a short, simple, safe, and highly effective cure for all forms of TB.”

Landmark Agreement for New Tuberculosis Treatment SEONGNAM-SI, South Korea and NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Qurient Co. Ltd. ("Qurient", KRX: 115180), a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in South Korea, and TB Alliance, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of better, faster-acting and affordable tuberculosis drugs, announced today that they have entered into a license agreement to develop and commercialize telacebec (Q203), a first-in-class orally available cytochrome bc1 inhibitor for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and other non-tuberculosis mycobacterium infections. Under the terms of the license agreement TB Alliance obtains the exclusive worldwide license (except for South Korea, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries) to develop and commercialize telacebec for the treatment of tuberculosis and some non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) infections. Kiyean Nam, Ph.D., CEO of Qurient, commented "As telacebec's unique mechanism of action of blocking energy metabolism of the Mycobacterium can address all types of TB, including drug-resistant TB, we expect telacebec to potentially become an essential component of drug combination regimens for the treatment of TB. We believe telacebec will greatly contribute to the global efforts to combating the TB pandemic, which remains a serious public health challenge worldwide. Our partnership with the TB Alliance will accelerate the widespread availability of telacebec and bring it to those in need." Mel Spigelman, MD, President and CEO of TB Alliance, said "TB Alliance is excited to partner with Qurient to bring about the next generation of TB cures. New drugs like telacebec are urgently needed in the fight against TB as well as certain NTM infections – compounds with potentially impactful novel mechanisms of action can have a significant benefit in combating the TB pandemic. If we expect to regain ground lost to COVID-19, we need to use every tool we have to give patients the best possible treatment and save lives. We look forward to advancing this new compound as part of combination regimens that could yield a short, simple, safe, and highly effective cure for all forms of TB." About Telacebec (Q203) Telacebec is a first in class investigational drug that selectively inhibits the cytochrome bc1 complex of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This complex is a critical component of the electron transport chain, and its inhibition disrupts the bacterium's ability to generate energy. The potent efficacy of telacebec against both drug sensitive and drug resistant TB has been demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies. Telacebec was successfully tested in Phase 2a early bactericidal activity (EBA) study for tuberculosis and the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (March, 2020). Telacebec has received Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation from the U.S. FDA. Tuberculosis is a tropical disease eligible for the FDA Priority Review Voucher (PRV) program. About Qurient Qurient is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in South Korea and is listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX 115180). Qurient focuses on the development of novel therapeutics from discovery to human proof-of-concept stages through virtual R&D project management platform. Qurient currently has four programs in clinical development: Q301, a topical leukotriene inhibitor for atopic dermatitis that has completed a Phase 2b study; telacebec (Q203), a first-in-class orally available cytochrome bc1 inhibitor for tuberculosis that has completed a Phase 2a study; Q702, a first-in-class Axl/Mer/CSF1R receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor in Phase 1/2; and Q901, a selective CDK7 inhibitor in Phase 1. A subsidiary of Qurient, QLi5 is developing immunoproteasome inhibitors targeting multiple Myeloma and other indications. For more information, please visit . About TB Alliance TB Alliance is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding faster-acting and affordable drug regimens to fight TB. Through innovative science and with partners around the globe, we aim to ensure equitable access to faster, better TB cures that will advance global health and prosperity. TB Alliance operates with support from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (United Kingdom), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research through KfW, Global Disease Eradication Fund (South Korea), Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, Indonesia Health Fund, Irish Aid, Korea International Cooperation Agency, Medical Research Council (United Kingdom), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Kingdom Department for International Development, and the United States Agency for International Development. For more information, please visit: SOURCE TB Alliance