Chonnam National University and SML Biopharm Selected for National Project to Develop Next-Generation Cervical Cancer Therapeutic Vaccine

[Medical News = Reporter Won-jun Cha] On the 24th, a research team led by Professors Jun Haeng Lee and Si-eun Lee of Chonnam National University Medical School announced that their joint project with SML Biopharm, an mRNA vaccine specialist, has been selected for the "Lead Discovery Project" by the Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF).

The research team is developing a vaccine that overcomes the limitations of existing cancer therapeutic vaccines by applying precision immune induction technology. This technology is designed to accurately recognize cancer cells and trigger a robust immune response. The primary target is cervical cancer caused by high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections, which show a high incidence rate among Asian women.

The core of their approach is a TLR5/NLRC4 dual-target adjuvant strategy. This strategy activates suppressed Dendritic Cells (DCs) within the Tumor Microenvironment (TME) and significantly enhances antigen-specific T-cell responses.

By securing original technologies—including DC-targeting peptides, flagellin-based adjuvants, and HPV antigen-specific T-cell enhancement—and integrating AI-based antigen design, the team has completed the ‘All-in-One (AIO) Therapeutic Vaccine Platform.’ This platform integrates DC targeting, optimized antigens, and dual adjuvant elements into a single, cohesive structure.

Under this project, the team will simultaneously develop both protein-based AIO vaccines and mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticle (mRNA-LNP) vaccines. They plan to maximize anticancer efficacy through a combined administration strategy that leverages the strong initial immune response of mRNA vaccines and the long-term immune memory effects of protein vaccines.

Their partner, SML Biopharm (CEO Jae-Hwan Nam, professor at the Catholic University of Korea), is an mRNA platform specialist established in 2021. The company possesses competitive high-efficiency, low-toxicity LNP drug delivery technology. In this collaboration, SML Biopharm will be responsible for mRNA production and purification, LNP formulation, and quality control (QC).

The research team stated, “The selection for this national project will accelerate the clinical application of our cervical cancer therapeutic vaccine and contribute significantly to the advancement of mRNA therapeutics in Korea.”