Hanmi Pharmaceutical unveils FAP-targeting SMDC as next-generation cancer modality
In short
Hanmi Pharmaceutical said it has unveiled a small molecule-drug conjugate (SMDC) that targets the tumour microenvironment as a next-generation anti-cancer modality. The company said it presented preclinical results for the FAP-targeting candidate at the Discovery on Target 2026 conference in Boston, held from Sept 28 to Oct 1, and will present the same results at a Nature Conference at MD Anderson Cancer Center from Oct 6 to 8. Korean business outlets framed the SMDC as a way to address the limits of existing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
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Hanmi Pharmaceutical said it has unveiled a small molecule-drug conjugate (SMDC) that targets the tumour microenvironment as a next-generation anti-cancer modality, and that it presented preclinical research results for the candidate. The company said the oral presentation took place at the international conference Discovery on Target 2026 in Boston from Sept 28 to Oct 1. Korean business outlets described the SMDC as a way to address the limits of existing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs); one report compared an ADC to an anti-cancer missile and the SMDC to an anti-cancer drone unit that penetrates deep into a tumour. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the company, SMDC conjugates a cytotoxic drug to a relatively small small-molecule compound instead of an antibody, and Hanmi chose that design to improve penetration into tumour tissue and the tumour microenvironment. The target selected is FAP (fibroblast activation protein), which the company says is highly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumour microenvironment and has limited expression in most normal adult tissue. Hanmi said it used DNA-Encoded Library screening to find a new small-molecule compound that selectively binds FAP, then conjugated a cytotoxic drug to it, applying a linker designed to remain stable in blood and to activate in the tumour microenvironment so that drug exposure elsewhere in the body is reduced. [ 1 , 3 ]
In preclinical studies, the company said anti-cancer efficacy was confirmed in mouse models implanted with FAP-expressing cell lines, and that tumour growth inhibition and extended survival were observed in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model. A Hanmi official said SMDC differs from existing ADCs, which depend on whether individual cancer cells express a specific antigen, because it can deliver drugs by targeting FAP expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts that make up the tumour microenvironment of various cancer types. The official added that the company had confirmed the modality's potential to extend treatment beyond targeting cancer cells themselves to the environment surrounding the tumour. [ 3 ]
Hanmi said it will present the same research results orally at the Nature Conference–Next Generation Cancer Therapy, held at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas from Oct 6 to 8. The announcement drew coverage from three business outlets the same morning; one of them, Newsis, carried a headline about the SMDC results but article text on an unrelated Supreme Court judicial audit, and Chosun Ilbo's item was available only as a feed summary. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The announcement adds a preclinical oncology programme to Hanmi Pharmaceutical's pipeline and shows continued Korean activity in next-generation cancer modalities positioned alongside antibody-drug conjugates. Because the results presented are preclinical, the documents give no indication of when the candidate could reach clinical trials or the market. The company plans to present the same data again at a US cancer conference, though the documents do not say what interest that is expected to draw.
Key facts
- Hanmi Pharmaceutical unveiled a small molecule-drug conjugate (SMDC) targeting the tumour microenvironment as a next-generation anti-cancer modality. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The company said it gave an oral presentation of the FAP-targeting SMDC's preclinical results at the international conference Discovery on Target 2026 in Boston, held from Sept 28 to Oct 1. [ 3 ]
- SMDC conjugates a cytotoxic drug to a relatively small small-molecule compound instead of an antibody, a design Hanmi says improves penetration into tumour tissue and the tumour microenvironment. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The target, FAP (fibroblast activation protein), is highly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumour microenvironment of several solid cancers including pancreatic and colorectal cancer, and has limited expression in most normal adult tissue. [ 3 ]
- Hanmi said it used DNA-Encoded Library (DEL) screening to find a new small molecule that selectively binds FAP, and applied a linker designed to stay stable in blood and activate in the tumour microenvironment to reduce systemic drug exposure. [ 3 ]
- In preclinical studies, anti-cancer efficacy was observed in mice implanted with FAP-expressing cell lines; in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model, tumour growth inhibition and extended survival were observed. [ 3 ]
- Hanmi plans to present the same results at the Nature Conference–Next Generation Cancer Therapy at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) in Texas from Oct 6 to 8. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Hanmi Pharmaceutical has unveiled an SMDC, a small molecule-drug conjugate, as a next-generation anti-cancer modality targeting the tumour microenvironment. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Hanmi presented SMDC research results as a way to address the limits of existing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). [ 1 , 2 ]
- SMDC conjugates a cytotoxic drug to a small molecule compound rather than an antibody, unlike antibody-based ADCs. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- When the FAP-targeting SMDC candidate could enter clinical trials or reach the market. The documents describe only preclinical results and the conference presentations, and give no development timeline.
- The specific efficacy figures behind the preclinical results. The documents report the findings qualitatively — tumour growth inhibition and extended survival in a mouse model — without numbers.
- How Newsis covered the announcement in detail. Document 2's headline is about Hanmi's SMDC research results, but its article text concerns a Supreme Court judicial audit, so no details could be drawn from it.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo reports that Hanmi Pharmaceutical has unveiled an SMDC targeting the tumour microenvironment as a next-generation cancer modality. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reports that Hanmi has announced SMDC research results aimed at overcoming the limits of ADCs. [ 2 ]
- Asia Economy reports that Hanmi Pharmaceutical said it presented preclinical results for its FAP-targeting SMDC at Discovery on Target 2026 in Boston, held from Sept 28 to Oct 1. [ 3 ]