With the opening of the 'J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference', which attracted much attention last year with domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies announcing the achievement of 'big deals,’ approaching, attention is gathering on what results will be announced this year.

The keywords of this year's event are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)--based obesity drugs and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which have risen as hot topics in the global pharmaceutical and bio market.

At the event, domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies will be presenting their portfolios and holding face-to-face meetings.

#According to industry sources on the 6th, the 43rd JP Morgan Healthcare Conference is scheduled to be held in San Francisco, U.S., from January 13 to 16 (local time).

The event, which celebrates its 43rd event this year, has served as an opportunity for about 600 domestic and large multinational pharmaceutical companies to share their new R&D achievements and status and discuss the future development of the pharmaceutical and bio industry. Above all, it is an opportunity for domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies to fulfill their main objectives of ”technology exports” and “forging partnerships.”

In particular, at this year's event, in addition to the conference regular Samsung Biologics, Lotte Biologics, and Celltrion will unveil their contract development manufacturing Organization (CDMO) facilities and major business strategies.

Among them, Samsung Biologics has always participated in the event since the 2020s and unveiled its major business strategies in the Main Track. This year, the company's CEO John Rim will be the main track presenter and will present its manufacturing facilities (5-8 plants) and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) portfolio.

Celltrion will also participate in the event to showcase its drug development achievements, including its ADC anti-cancer pipeline, as well as its CDMO vision. Celltrion is developing 3 ADC drugs and 3 multi-antibody drugs with the goal of commercializing its first product in 2029.

Lotte Biologics, which has set its sights on becoming a CDMO specialist, is expected to announce its plans for the CDMO business and the expansion of its Syracuse ADC production facility under its newly appointed CEO James Park.

Lotte Biologics previously announced that it will invest KRW 4.6 trillion by 2030 to own the capability as a global-level biopharmaceutical manufacturing competitor. At the same time, the Syracuse Bio Campus has disclosed plans to invest in ADC production facilities and begin full-scale production this year.

Along with domestic CDMOs, bio companies that are challenging new drug development also registered and put their names on the event lineup.

Among them, Onconic Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Jeil Pharmaceutical, which launched the P-CAB class gastroesophageal reflux disease drug Zaqbo (zastaprazan) last year, will also participate in the event.

Onconic Therapeutics will use the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference to focus on strategic meetings with global pharmaceutical companies and investors. In particular, the company plans to accelerate the global market entry of its targeted anti-cancer drug Nesuparib with Zaqbo.

“The JP Morgan Healthcare Conference will be an important opportunity to showcase our new drug pipeline and technology to the global market and create new collaboration opportunities,” said a representative from Onconic Therapeutics. “As we excluded the market value of Nesuparib from the public offering price during the KOSDAQ listing process, leaving new shareholders’ interests untouched, we look forward to a full-scale reassessment and valuation of the company through this event.”

Bridge Biotherapeutics has been officially invited to make a corporate presentation. The presentation will highlight the company's growth strategy, including BBT-877, its lead candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

BBT-877 is in the later stages of a global Phase 2 clinical trial, with top-line data expected next April. To date, 98 patients, representing more than 75% of the total patients, have completed the 24-week dosing process, and data from all patients in the trial will be finalized within the first quarter of next year.

In addition, domestic companies that are developing not only anti-cancer drugs but also obesity drugs, a global drug development trend, will also participate in the event.

D&D Pharmatech will present its glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) based obesity treatment. In November last year, D&D Pharmatech started clinical trials for DD02, an oral GLP-1-based obesity treatment, through its U.S. partner Metsera.

Also, Dx&Vx will also be participating in the event to share the progress of its own oral GLP-1 obesity drug currently in development.

“As global pharmaceutical companies compete to develop oral GLP-1 therapeutics, interest in our technology is growing,” said a representative from Dx&Vx. ”We look forward to strengthening our global presence at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference and collaborating with various partners to bring better treatment options to patients.”