Pharmaceutical advancements in cancer treatment via SMDC and AI-driven drug design

Hanmi Pharmaceutical has announced preclinical research results for its next-generation Small Molecule Drug Conjugate (SMDC) technology, designed to overcome the penetration limitations of traditional Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADC). Unlike ADCs, which are large molecules that struggle to penetrate dense tumor microenvironments, SMDCs use smaller molecules to target fibroblast activation protein (FAP) within the tumor environment. In mouse models, the technology demonstrated effectiveness in inhibiting tumor growth and extending survival in pancreatic cancer.

Separately, AI drug discovery firm Insilico Medicine has successfully used its AI platforms, PandaOmics and Chemistry42, to design a PROTAC-class candidate molecule for treating blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. The molecule targets Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) to degrade proteins that facilitate cancer cell growth. By utilizing AI, the company aims to significantly reduce the time required to select drug candidates for clinical trials, potentially cutting the process from several years down to 12–18 months.