Which domestic startup was selected by a world-renowned academic journal?

Nature Biotechnology Introduces RNA editing.
Explanation of technology of 'Rznomics', a bio company
RNA replacement technology enters clinical trials for liver cancer candidates.

In the newly emerging RNA editing technology sector following gene  editing technology, Korean startups are receiving good reviews based on their advanced technology.

In March, the world-renowned scientific journal, “Nature Biotechnology”, introduced the technology of Korean venture company Rznomics in detail in an article introducing RNA editing technology.

All living things are made up of DNA. DNA consists of a list of four bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T), which go through RNA to produce proteins necessary for life phenomena. Scientists are continuing their efforts to develop a technology that cuts and attaches RNA, following DNA editing, and to use it for new drug development of new drugs. In particular, unlike DNA editing, most RNA editing technologies do not use external proteins in the editing process, so it is expected that there will be few side effects to the immune response.

Nature Biotechnology introduced in its March issue, "RNA editing technology is gaining popularity quickly because it is transient and reversible, and is attracting attention as a more flexible approach to editing technology compared to DNA editing technology." Nature Biotechnology introduced major pharmaceutical-bio companies around the world based on RNA editing technology, mentioning the history and technology of Rznomics in Korea. "Dr. Seong-wook Lee, a post-doctoral researcher at Duke University's Bruce Sullenger's lab, went back to Korea and continued RNA editing research to start Rznomics," Nature Biotechnology said. "Rznomics' new drug RZ-001 has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct U.S. clinical trials for liver cancer." And added, "The candidate substance is already undergoing clinical trials."

Founded in August 2017 by CEO Seong-wook Lee, Rznomics' technology is "RNA replacement" technology. Existing RNA editing techniques have only modified specific bases, but Rznomics' editing technology can cut a specific RNA and replace the entire cut target site with therapeutic RNA at the same time.

If the existing base editing technology corrects the typos, the replacement technology of Rznomics will rewrite the wrong sentence itself into a new sentence. Using this technology, it has the advantage of being able to treat diseases with various mutations for each patient with one drug.

RZ-001, Rznomics' liver cancer treatment candidate, works by removing RNA that affects cancer cell division and proliferation and replacing it with RNA that attacks cancer cells instead to induce suicide. This can not only inhibit cancer cell proliferation but also induce an immune response to cancer. Seong-wook Lee, CEO of Rznomics, said, "We are targeting glioblastoma after liver cancer," adding, "We expect to apply various intractable and rare cancers, genetic retinal diseases, and Alzheimer's in the future."

Last year, Rznomics received clinical approval for liver cancer from the  Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and FDA and is conducting phase 1 clinical trials of RZ-001 at five major domestic hospitals.

 

Going forward, phase 2 clinical trials will be conducted simultaneously in Korea and the United States. It also conducted clinical applications for malignant brain tumors and received clinical approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and FDA in May this year, and plans to conduct clinical trials within this year. Rznomics received a cumulative investment of 60.9 billion won, including Series C last year, from Korea Development Bank, AON Investment, Partners Investment, IBK Capital, Quad Ventures, SBI Investment, Shinhan Venture Investment, UTC Investment, Samsung Securities etc. Rznomics plan to apply for technical evaluation in the second half of this year and request a preliminary review of KOSDAQ listing in the first half of next year.