Harbour BioMed (HKEX: 02142) has entered into a long-term strategic collaboration with Yantai Lannacheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Lannacheng”), setting out plans to jointly develop next-generation radionuclide drug conjugates (RDCs) for cancer treatment.
The two companies will combine technology, research capacity and industry expertise to accelerate programmes in an area viewed as a promising alternative to existing cancer therapies.
RDCs are designed to deliver targeted radiation by using tumour antigen–specific ligands that carry radionuclides directly to cancer cells. This approach seeks to limit damage to surrounding healthy tissue compared with conventional radiotherapy. Unlike antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), RDCs can also affect neighbouring tumour cells and the wider tumour microenvironment, even where the target antigen is not present, potentially helping address issues such as tumour heterogeneity and drug resistance. The technology is also seen as opening opportunities for theranostics, bringing diagnosis and treatment together in a single pathway.
Harbour BioMed has been expanding its capabilities in antibody discovery and development through advanced technology platforms. The company’s proprietary Harbour Mice® platform enables the creation of fully human monoclonal antibodies in both conventional (H2L2) and heavy chain-only (HCAb) forms without further humanisation work. The HCAb format produces antibodies roughly half the size of standard IgGs, which can support future therapeutic design. In RDC development, fully human antibodies with low immunogenicity, high specificity and strong penetration are expected to improve targeted delivery while helping reduce toxicity and side effects.
Lannacheng, established in 2021, operates as a clinical-stage biotechnology company centred on integrated theranostic radiopharmaceuticals for oncology. Its research model combines target validation, radioisotope selection and linker design using proprietary pharmacokinetic optimisation and dual-targeting platforms. The company benefits from support from its controlling shareholder, Dongcheng Biochem, which contributes R&D resources, radioisotope supply, and a GMP production facility under construction in Yantai. This setup is aimed at maintaining a scalable and fast-moving pipeline.
Announcing the agreement, Jingsong Wang, MD, PhD, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Harbour BioMed, said: “We are very pleased to establish a long-term strategic collaboration with Lannacheng to jointly advance the development of next-generation RDCs. Harbour BioMed is committed to providing efficient and highly differentiated antibody solutions for innovative therapies through our globally leading Harbour Mice® fully human antibody platform. This collaboration will deeply integrate Harbour BioMed’s expertise in antibody discovery with Lannacheng’s strengths in radiopharmaceutical R&D and commercialization, accelerating the development of more precise, effective and safe cancer therapies and bringing new hope to patients worldwide.”
Wu Xiaoming, General Manager of Lannacheng, added: “We are delighted to establish a long-term strategic collaboration with Harbour BioMed to jointly advance the R&D and translation of next-generation radiopharmaceuticals. Lannacheng is committed to leveraging our systematic radiopharmaceutical technology platform, comprehensive industrial capabilities, and global collaboration network to provide efficient, innovative, and differentiated integrated solutions for tumor diagnosis and treatment. This collaboration will fully combine Lannacheng’s strengths in radiopharmaceutical R&D and commercialization and Harbour BioMed’s deep expertise in antibody discovery. Together, we aim to accelerate the development of more precise, effective, and safe cancer treatment therapies, bringing new hope to patients worldwide.”
The partnership is positioned as a significant step for both businesses as they seek to expand their pipelines and move potential therapies towards clinical and commercial stages.
