The company plans to present nine preclinical studies at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego
A view of the Hanmi Pharmaceutical Research Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. (Photo courtesy of Hanmi Pharmaceutical)
Hanmi Pharmaceutical is broadening the base for new drug development success, grounded in robust, evidence-based R&D (Research and Development).
Hanmi Pharmaceutical, a core business company of Hanmi Science, announced on April 6 that it will participate in the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2026 Annual Meeting, held in San Diego, U.S.A. from April 17 to 22 (local time). The company will disclose the results of nine non-clinical studies, the highest number among domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
At this year’s AACR, Hanmi Pharmaceutical will deliver poster presentations on research findings for a total of eight new drug candidates: ▲EZH1/2 dual inhibitor (HM97662), ▲selective HER2 inhibitor (HM100714), ▲SOS1-KRAS interaction inhibitor (HM101207), ▲EP300 selective degrader, ▲STING mRNA anticancer new drug, ▲two studies on a p53-mRNA anticancer new drug, and, being primarily developed by Beijing Hanmi Pharmaceutical, ▲4-1BB x PD-L1 bispecific antibody (BH3120) and ▲B7H3 x PD-L1 bispecific antibody ADC (BH4601).
A large number of researchers from the Hanmi Pharmaceutical R&D Center are scheduled to attend and introduce these innovative projects, which is expected to be an opportunity to explore progressive collaborations with leading global pharmaceutical companies.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical will present study results confirming the synergistic effect of combining its ‘EZH1/2 dual inhibitor (HM97662)’ with a DNA damaging agent in a SMARCA4-deficient malignant lung cancer model. HM97662 is being developed as a next-generation targeted anticancer therapy with superior anti-tumor efficacy and the potential to overcome resistance compared to existing EZH2 selective inhibitors, through a ‘dual inhibitory mechanism’ that simultaneously suppresses both EZH1 and EZH2 proteins.
Additionally, Hanmi will unveil research on its oral targeted anticancer new drug, the ‘selective HER2 inhibitor (HM100714),’ which is being developed to treat HER2-mutated cancers. The study utilized the latest analysis technology based on artificial intelligence (AI) to derive optimal indications. HER2 mutations appear in various cancers, including breast and lung cancer, and are known to cause cancer cell growth and metastasis. In particular, these HER2 mutations are also associated with brain and leptomeningeal metastasis, acting as a major cause of poor patient prognosis and lower survival rates.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical will also present research findings showing that its ‘SOS1-KRAS interaction inhibitor (HM101207)’ overcomes resistance in KRAS-dependent cancers by regulating the expression of genes involved in the hypoxic survival mechanism. HM101207 is a novel mechanism inhibitor (SOS1-KRAS multi-inhibitor) that blocks the binding between SOS1 and KRAS, which play a key role in the signaling pathway, to suppress the activation of KRAS, a representative cancer-causing mutation. It is gaining attention as a promising candidate for global anticancer combination therapy strategies.
The ‘EP300 selective degrader,’ first unveiled by Hanmi last October, is being developed as an oral targeted therapy applying Hanmi’s new modality, ‘Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD)’ platform technology. At the conference, Hanmi will present research on the discovery of an optimized EP300 selective degrader that exhibits excellent anticancer effects without side effects, utilizing advanced technologies such as molecular dynamics simulations, bioinformatics frameworks, AI, and machine learning.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical will also present research achievements for its immuno-oncology new drugs based on its ‘mRNA platform,’ which is drawing attention as a next-generation modality.
The STING (Stimulator of IFN Genes) mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) anticancer new drug is a therapeutic that directly expresses activated STING protein to induce a powerful anticancer immune response. At the conference, the company will introduce research that has not only demonstrated the immune response activation mechanism but also proven a ‘dual mechanism’ that induces the direct killing of tumor cells, thereby identifying its effective anticancer efficacy.
Another mRNA platform-based new drug, the p53 mRNA anticancer new drug, is a therapeutic that induces apoptosis in cancer cells by ensuring the normal expression of the p53 protein, a representative tumor suppressor gene, within cells. At the conference, Hanmi will disclose research results confirming superior anticancer efficacy by developing an analog with an enhanced cancer cell-killing mechanism compared to wild-type p53, and demonstrating a mechanism to overcome chemotherapy resistance.
Furthermore, in its p53 mRNA anticancer new drug research, Hanmi will present findings that propose a systematic approach for selecting cancer types with a high potential for treatment application by using transcriptome-based analysis to predict responsiveness to p53 restoration therapy in advance.
Meanwhile, Hanmi Pharmaceutical has solidified its professional management system by appointing an external figure as CEO for the first time in its 53-year history. However, with market doubts about the new CEO’s expertise in the pharmaceutical sector and the remaining ‘embers of internal conflict’ from legal disputes between major shareholders, CEO Hwang Sang-yeon’s leadership is being put to the test.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical recorded its best-ever performance last year. According to the Financial Supervisory Service, Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s consolidated revenue last year was 1.5475 trillion won, an increase of 3.5% from the previous year. During the same period, operating profit was 257.8 billion won, up by about 19%. Net profit grew by approximately 33% year-on-year to 187.1 billion won.
Choi Mun-hee
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