In order to survive, cancer cells hide the expression of receptors recognized by immune cells, attract tumor-associated cells, and develop a tumor microenvironment favorable to their growth and survival.
These characteristics of tumor tissue present challenges that are essential to overcome in order to treat solid cancers.

ROD™ (Rocket Delivery; Nano-sized drug delivery system) developed by our company is a drug delivery technology that effectively delivers and releases various drugs into tumor tissue by selectively binding to ligands overexpressed in cancers. The drug released in the tumor environment penetrates into the tumor tissue and increases the expression on cancer cells of receptors recognized by immune cells and weakens tumor-associated cells.

This allows our immune cell therapy to more effectively eliminate cancer cells and tumor-associated cells weakened by drugs in this way.

In addition to cancer cells and tumor-associated cells, various immune cells reside in the tumor microenvironment. However, immune cells in the tumor microenvironment have reduced immune activity due to immune suppressors produced by cancer cells.

MNKE™ (Multispecific NK Cell Engager) is a new concept multi-antibody drug that can form immune synapses by simultaneously binding to specific cancer antigens and active receptors on immune cells. It can maximize the activity of NK cell therapy, as well as reactivate immune cells that are suppressed in the tumor microenvironment.

Currently, Therabest USA, a subsidiary of Therabest, is developing MNKE™, and aims to enter clinical trials by the end of 2023.