Lonza has signed an exclusive license agreement with Qurient to use the Korean biotechnology company’s cyclin-dependent kinase 7 inhibitors in dual-payload antibody-drug conjugates, adding a new technology to its cancer drug development and manufacturing services.
The agreement covers use of Qurient’s CDK7 inhibitors in ADCs carrying two different cytotoxic payloads on a single antibody. These designs allow developers to combine distinct mechanisms within one targeted treatment.
The first combination introduced through the collaboration, SYN-duo CC, pairs exatecan with a Qurient CDK7 inhibitor. Exatecan is a camptothecin-derived topoisomerase 1 inhibitor. Lonza will offer the combination as an off-the-shelf linker-payload for ADC design and development.
The format is intended to enable CDK7 inhibition to enhance the activity of the topoisomerase 1 inhibitor within the same therapeutic approach, according to the companies.
Beyond SYN-duo CC, Lonza can use its existing proprietary platform to combine Qurient’s CDK7 inhibitor with other payloads for additional dual-payload ADC designs.
The licensed technology includes Qurient’s clinical-stage CDK7 inhibitor. Qurient is based in Seongnam, South Korea, while Lonza is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.
Christian Seufert, Lonza’s head of advanced synthesis, said the agreement adds payload options for customers evaluating and developing dual-payload ADCs. Lonza’s services extend from early technology evaluation through development, manufacturing and commercialization.
Qurient Chief Executive Kiyean Nam said the collaboration expands opportunities to apply the company’s CDK7 inhibitors across ADC programs.
The agreement broadens Lonza’s proprietary technology offering alongside its contract development and manufacturing services, providing both a predefined payload combination and options for customized dual-payload formats.