Kolon Pharma announced on the 8th that it has entered into a joint development partnership with GBIOLOGICS to develop a new therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) based on Galectin‑9.
Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate on the research and development of GBIOLOGICS’ lupus drug candidate GB930. Kolon Pharma will oversee clinical and business development, leveraging its clinical expertise and global pharmaceutical network, while GBIOLOGICS will manage biopharmaceutical sample production and preclinical studies.
The companies aim to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for GB930 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the second half of next year.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, fever, and pain across multiple organs. Current treatments include NSAIDs, antimalarials, steroids, and immunosuppressants, but these are limited by side effects and low efficacy.
GB930 is a recombinant stabilized Galectin‑9 protein, engineered by removing the linker between two carbohydrate recognition domains to resist enzymatic modification. Compared to naturally occurring Galectin‑9, GB930 maintains a more stable structure and function, and is expected to demonstrate superior efficacy over existing lupus therapies.
Mechanistically, GB930 binds to CD44 on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and B cells, modulating TLR7/9 signaling. This dual action suppresses both B‑cell activity and pDC activation, differentiating it from existing lupus drugs such as Benlysta (GSK), which inhibits autoantibody production, and Saphnelo (AstraZeneca), which targets type‑1 interferon.
A Kolon Pharma representative stated, “Through this joint development agreement, the two companies will collaborate organically from business strategy to clinical trial stages.”
