ImmunoForge Targets Global Deals with Novel BBB and Oncology Platforms

SEOUL, South Korea – October 22, 2026 — As the biopharmaceutical industry prepares to converge on Cologne for BIO-Europe 2026 next month, the strategic imperatives defining the healthcare landscape are coming into sharp focus. Today, the creation of lasting therapeutic value is no longer just about discovering novel targets; it is increasingly about mastering the delivery and safety of those interventions. ImmunoForge Co., Ltd., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical venture based in South Korea, is stepping onto the European stage with a portfolio that exemplifies this shift, aiming to secure global licensing and co-development deals for its proprietary delivery platforms and rare disease pipelines.

Backed by over 46 billion KRW in institutional funding and founded by experts in genomic translational medicine, ImmunoForge represents a growing cohort of Asian biotechs looking to export domestic innovation to the global market. The company’s upcoming 1-on-1 partnering sessions at the November conference will center on two foundational delivery technologies—the ELP and LMT platforms—alongside a trio of clinical-stage assets targeting oncology and intractable neuromuscular diseases.

Solving the Safety Conundrum in Resistant CML

One of the most nuanced challenges in modern precision oncology is managing the evolutionary arms race of drug resistance without inflicting collateral damage on the patient. In Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), the T315I "gatekeeper" mutation accounts for roughly 30 percent of drug-resistant cases, rendering many first- and second-line therapies ineffective.

While third-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like Ponatinib (Iclusig) are highly effective against this mutation, they carry severe, black-box cardiovascular risks. These adverse events, including severe arterial occlusive diseases, are largely attributed to the off-target inhibition of VEGFR2 (KDR). Newer entrants like Asciminib have attempted to bypass these issues via different binding mechanisms, but the clinical need for a highly selective, traditional TKI without cardiovascular baggage remains acute.

ImmunoForge’s answer is KF1601, a next-generation BCR-ABL1 TKI explicitly engineered to overcome this safety conundrum. Preclinical studies indicate that KF1601 maintains superior kinome selectivity against the T315I mutation while deliberately sparing KDR/VEGFR2. By eliminating the primary driver of severe cardiovascular toxicity, the asset could dramatically reshape the risk-benefit calculus for patients requiring long-term intervention for resistant leukemias. Currently co-developed with a leading Korean pharmaceutical company for domestic Phase 1 trials, ImmunoForge has retained the highly lucrative Rest-of-World (RoW) rights, including the US and EU markets, making it a prime candidate for Western licensing partners seeking a safer alternative in the CML space.

Beyond Transferrin: Challenging the BBB Bottleneck

The Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) remains the pharmaceutical industry's most formidable fortress. For decades, the effort to deliver large biologics and genetic medicines into the central nervous system has relied heavily on Transferrin receptor (TfR) shuttles. However, as the 2026 landscape demands more complex payloads, the limitations of TfR—namely, high peripheral saturation and competition with endogenous ligands—have become apparent.

ImmunoForge is challenging this bottleneck with its Leptin Receptor-Mediated Transcytosis (LMT) platform. By targeting the Leptin receptor (LepR), which boasts high brain specificity and significantly lower peripheral saturation compared to TfR or Insulin receptors, the LMT platform minimizes peripheral loss.

What makes this approach particularly compelling for neuro-therapeutics venture investors is its payload versatility. Preclinical data for candidates like LMT15 demonstrate enhanced BBB penetration for notoriously difficult cargoes, including proteins larger than 60 kDa, intact mitochondria, and Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) encapsulating mRNA and siRNA. Successfully delivering LNPs into crucial brain regions like the hypothalamus could unlock entirely new treatment paradigms for neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. This differentiated mechanism has already garnered industry validation, notably winning 1st Place at the Novo Nordisk Partnering Day, signaling strong preliminary interest from major pharmaceutical players.

Engineering Longevity in Rare Disease Therapies

Beyond oncology and neurology, ImmunoForge is addressing the "longevity economy" from a different angle: extending the half-life of rare disease therapies to improve patient compliance and quality of life. The company’s Elastin-Like Polypeptide (ELP) platform is a versatile biopolymer technology that utilizes a thermally responsive phase transition to form a biocompatible depot upon subcutaneous administration.

Unlike traditional depot formulations that can cause tissue toxicity, initial burst release, or injection pain due to high viscosity, the ELP platform (utilizing a VPGXG sequence) releases its therapeutic moieties smoothly. The technology can extend circulating half-life by up to 200-fold, effectively transitioning dosing schedules from weekly to monthly. Furthermore, its Cys/Lys-free design allows for exceptionally low cost of goods (COGS) in standard expression systems, a critical factor for the commercial viability of rare disease drugs.

This platform underpins two of ImmunoForge’s lead rare disease assets. PF1801 is a long-acting GLP-1-ELP fusion candidate currently in Phase 2 clinical trials in South Korea for Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis. It acts directly on skeletal muscle membranes to suppress muscle cell necroptosis and stimulate protein synthesis. PF1801 has already secured US FDA Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and Phase 2 IND approval for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

Similarly, PF1804 is a weekly VPAC2 agonist engineered to target DMD-associated cardiomyopathy. By exerting potent vasodilatory and anti-fibrotic effects to preserve cardiac contractility, PF1804 also holds US FDA ODD and Phase 2 IND approval. Together, these assets present a validated, de-risked opportunity for global biopharma partners looking to expand their footprint in high-value rare disease markets.

The Strategic Export of South Korean Biotech

The strategic posture ImmunoForge is adopting ahead of BIO-Europe 2026 reflects a broader maturation of the South Korean biotech sector. No longer content with merely conducting early-stage R&D, these companies are actively seeking to monetize FDA-cleared, mid-stage clinical assets on the global stage.

"BIO-Europe 2026 is an essential venue for ImmunoForge as we focus on executing strategic partnerships and licensing agreements for our lead clinical assets and platform technologies," said Sung-Min Ahn (MD, Ph.D.) and Ki-Ho Chang (MBA), Co-CEOs of ImmunoForge, in a joint statement. "With a proven track record of multiple out-licensing deals—including agreements with global animal health companies and leading domestic pharmaceutical partners—we are eager to collaborate with global partners to maximize the therapeutic and commercial potential of KF1601, PF1801, PF1804, and our ELP/LMT platforms."

As the industry continues to prioritize therapies that offer clear clinical differentiation—whether through eliminating cardiotoxicity in oncology or successfully bypassing the BBB for genetic medicines—platforms that can reliably deliver these outcomes will command a premium. ImmunoForge's transition from domestic development to global commercialization will be a key narrative to watch as the partnering sessions unfold in Cologne.