Swedish biotech company Salipro Biotech AB has announced a strategic research collaboration with South Korean pharmaceutical company Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to advance the development of novel small molecule therapeutics targeting challenging membrane proteins. The partnership combines Salipro's proprietary Salipro® platform technology with Daewoong's drug discovery programs to address previously inaccessible drug targets.
Addressing a Critical Drug Discovery Challenge
Membrane proteins represent a significant opportunity in pharmaceutical research, accounting for over 60 percent of known drug targets and playing essential roles in cellular functions. However, their inherent structural instability in laboratory conditions has long presented a major barrier to effective drug discovery efforts. The Salipro® platform addresses this challenge by stabilizing membrane proteins in their native forms, making them accessible for therapeutic development programs.
"We are excited to join forces with Daewoong Pharmaceutical and contribute with our proprietary Salipro® platform to accelerate the development of novel therapeutic drugs for Daewoong Pharmaceutical's pipeline," said Jens Frauenfeld, CEO of Salipro Biotech. "This partnership is particularly significant as it marks our first collaboration with a partner in South Korea, underscoring the global application and versatility of our expertise and platform to make the undruggable druggable."
Strategic Partnership Details
Under the terms of the agreement, Daewoong Pharmaceutical gains access to Salipro Biotech's expertise and proprietary platform for stabilizing challenging membrane proteins, including GPCRs, ion channels, and transporters. The collaboration will focus on a specific membrane protein target to support Daewoong's development of novel small molecule drugs.
Seongsoo Park, CEO at Daewoong Pharmaceutical, stated, "Collaborating with Salipro Biotech and accessing their Salipro® platform aligns with our goal to address complex drug targets. Salipro's expertise in membrane protein stabilization will benefit our research for novel small molecule therapeutics, and we look forward to the results of our joint efforts."
Expanding Global Reach
This partnership represents Salipro's first collaboration with a Korean company, following previous successful partnerships with major pharmaceutical firms including Boehringer Ingelberg, Sanofi, and Sumitomo. For Daewoong, the alliance supports its open innovation strategy aimed at enhancing global competitiveness and establishing groundwork for potential overseas licensing opportunities.
"Our partnership with Daewoong marks Salipro's first collaboration with a Korean company, making it especially meaningful," Frauenfeld noted. "The Salipro platform enables research on previously inaccessible target proteins and is expected to unlock new possibilities in global innovative drug development."
Company Backgrounds
Salipro Biotech AB, headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, specializes in unlocking challenging drug targets for next-generation therapeutic development. The company's proprietary Salipro® technology enables membrane proteins to be employed in drug discovery programs for therapeutic antibodies, small molecule drugs, and structure-based drug design.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical, established in 1945 and listed on the Korean Exchange (KRX: 069620.KS), focuses on developing treatments for intractable and rare diseases. The company has achieved significant milestones in recent years, successfully developing novel drugs for GERD featuring the active ingredient Fexuprazan and for Type 2 diabetes with the active ingredient Enavogliflozin. Currently, Daewoong is advancing development of a First-in-Class Oral Anti-Fibrotic Agent for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, utilizing Bersiporocin as a PRS Inhibitor, which has received FDA orphan drug and Fast Track designations.
