Shares of South Korea’s Nibec Co. shot up after it entered a licensing deal with an unnamed global pharmaceutical company over the transfer of a drug delivery system that can be applied to mRNA and other gene-based therapies.

The Kosdaq-listed company is specialized in peptide technology and regenerative solutions. Its shares gained 7.55 percent to close at 39,150 won ($35.32) on Thursday.

If successfully commercialized, the company’s gene therapy delivery technology dubbed NIPEP-TPP is expected to increase the safety of Covid-19 vaccines with fewer side effects and make it unnecessary to store them at extreme low temperature, Nibec said on Wednesday.

The global pharmaceutical company undisclosed for confidentiality reasons is reviewing the application of this technology to not only vaccine treatment but also CAR-T and other gene therapies, according to Nibec.

Nibec said it had held negotiations with several global companies on a potential licensing deal for the gene therapy delivery platform technology since its participation at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference last month.

The gene therapy delivery platform targets mRNA and other gene-based therapies with a large molecular size. The technology can accurately deliver a therapeutic agent to the lesion without side effects.

Nibec said it provided all data on the production and safety of NIPEP-TPP, as well as drug delivery and therapeutic effects, during its negotiations with global pharmaceutical companies.

The companies completed data verification and thought highly of the technology potential, Nibec said, adding that its technology was highly rated as a next-generation solution to an mRNA vaccine based on a lipid nanoparticle platform which requires storage at -80°C.

By Pulse

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