KH Neochem and Luxana Biotech Launch Joint Research to Create New Drug Modalities

KH Neochem Corporation (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, President: Michio Takahashi, hereafter "KH Neochem") and Luxana Biotech Inc. (Headquarters: Suita-shi, Osaka, President & CEO: Hideaki Sato, hereafter "Luxana Biotech") announced today that they have commenced a joint research project as of March 2026, aiming to create novel drug modalities. Nucleic acid drugs are gaining attention as treatments for cancer and intractable diseases due to their potential to act on targets difficult for conventional small molecule drugs and antibody drugs. However, nucleic acid molecules are prone to degradation in the body and have poor cellular uptake, necessitating effective drug delivery systems. Glycans, biomolecules involved in cell-to-cell interactions, are expected to enhance drug recognition by specific tissues and cells when conjugated to pharmaceuticals. Against this backdrop, KH Neochem has partnered with Luxana Biotech to realize selective delivery of nucleic acid drugs via glycan modification. This joint research will combine KH Neochem's glycan design and synthesis technology with Luxana Biotech's nucleic acid drug design expertise, including its unique XNA technology, to improve the in vivo pharmacokinetics and delivery performance of nucleic acid drugs. The research period is expected to be two years from March 2026, during which the efficacy of the novel drug discovery approach will be validated. Through this partnership, the companies aim to deepen the fusion of glycan and nucleic acid drug technologies, foster future research and development themes, and expand their pipeline, ultimately contributing to the development of next-generation medicines and increasing treatment options for diseases with high medical needs.