Jinfar Pharma Pioneers Next-Generation ADC Development with Proprietary Targeted Payload Platform

Throughout the history of drug development, from small-molecule drugs to large-molecule drugs, and further to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that emerged in the early 21st century, the iterative advancement of pharmaceuticals has never ceased.

ADC drugs began to develop at the beginning of this century and are still in a very early stage. ADC drugs combine the advantages of small-molecule drugs and large-molecule drugs, with their main "battlefield" currently distributed in the oncology field. Currently, more than ten ADC drugs have been marketed globally, and one-third of those in the research pipeline have entered the clinical trial stage.

Globally, the development of ADC drugs in China is not significantly different from the global standard.The “Last Mile” We Need to Catch Up On Is China’s Innovation Capacity. Domestic ADC companies are concentrated on researching mature targets such as HER2 and TROP2, with few products submitted for regulatory approval; most of these are either already marketed abroad or introduced from late-stage clinical pipelines.From target identification to linker technology, and further to payload technology, China must urgently transition from blind reliance on follow-on strategies to independent, in-house research and development.

How to Expand Innovative Thinking in ADC Drug Development? How Much Potential Do ADC Drugs Really Have Worth Exploring? VCBeat Interviewed an Innovative Drug R&D Company with Rich Experience in Antibody Drug Development—Jinfa Pharmaceutical。

Jinfa Pharmaceuticals, founded by Chinese-American scientists and formerly known as GP Biotechnologies in the United States, primarily focuses on the research and development of targeted therapies for malignant tumors and biologics for immune-related diseases.

The company was established in 2015., and concurrently planned and laid out the development of ADC drugs, primarily involving research on the protein kinase PKCδ and linker synthesis technologies, and inReceived an $8 million investment from Matrix Partners China in 2021。

Jinfa Pharmaceutical has now gatheredFounder, Dr. Shuhua XiaThe core R&D team, composed of top-tier experts and consultants—including seasoned scientists, chemists, and professors from globally renowned pharmaceutical companies, universities, and research institutions—features complementary expertise and distinct competitive advantages. Dr. Xia Shuhua earned his Ph.D. from Peking Union Medical College and completed his postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School. With many years of experience in drug development at Pfizer, he has led or participated in the R&D of multiple blockbuster targeted therapies and antibody-based drugs.

Over the brief two decades since their market launch, antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapies have undergone three generations of evolution. ADC technology has seen substantial quality improvements, including enhanced homogeneity, increased hydrophilicity, and improved stability; however,ADC Drugs Remain in the Early Stages of Development. There is significant room for improvement in antibody engineering, conjugation processes, payload diversity, and application areas."High Efficiency" and "Targeting" Remain the Ultimate Goals for Future ADC Drugs。

Jinfa Pharmaceutical, leveraging its technological expertise in small-molecule drugs, antibody-based therapeutics, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), has achieved breakthrough advancements in its proprietary ADC platform across key areas including antibody engineering, linker technology, and targeting moieties.

For antibody engineering,Jinfa Pharmaceutical has independently developed a hundred-billion-scale antibody library and screening technology., in-depth engineering modifications were performed on the antibody, including surface site mutagenesis and optimization, as well as modification of membrane-binding sites, inSite-Specific Conjugation、Antibody Stability、Endocytosis Efficiency, andAntibody Affinitysignificantly improved.

Jinfa Pharmaceutical’s Proprietary Antibody Engineering Technology (Image source: Jinfa Pharmaceutical)

Since the company’s inception, it has been dedicated to developing efficient and stable linkage technologies, and has developedProprietary technology: a joint composed of three functional "arms" with different functions. Through the connector,The number of ADRs can be freely controlled., currently up to 16,Successfully Expanded the Therapeutic Window. Currently, the company isThe world's first company to utilize this technology to link antibodies and drugs.

Jinfa Pharmaceutical’s Proprietary Connector Technology (Image source: Jinfa Pharmaceutical)

Meanwhile, Jinfar Pharma has undergone screening and research on hundreds of Linkers, ultimatelyDevelopment of a Self-Cleaving Linker, achieving a more robust connection method, ensuring safety during drug transportation, and bringing about breakthrough changes to the field.

Self-cleaving Linker (Image source: Jinfar Pharma)

Most notably, to address the unresolved issue of high toxicity associated with current antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapies, Jinfa Pharmaceuticals has leveraged its robust capabilities in targeted drug development to create a targeted payload. This innovation enables ADCs not only to locate tumor-specific antigens via the antibody but also to self-guide and exert cytotoxic effects through the targeting moiety. In this “Under the “dual-targeting mode,” drugs exert more efficient antitumor effects, with reduced toxic side effects and an expanded therapeutic window.

Targeted Payload (Image source: Jinfa Pharmaceutical)

Specific AntibodyBody Modification、Fixed-Point Intermittent Connection Method、Proprietary Connector Joint、Self-cleaving linker, andHigh-Efficiency Targeted Molecules, making Jinfar PharmaceuticalAchieved comprehensive breakthroughs in its ADC drug across all aspects: low toxicity, high specificity, high stability, and a wide therapeutic window.。

Building on multidimensional breakthroughs in ADC drug technology, and integrating multifaceted considerations of clinical needs,Jinfa Pharmaceutical in small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, glioma, pancreatic cancer, etc.Cancers with a large patient population, high malignancy, and high mortality rateEstablished corresponding pipelines. In 2022, multiple pipelinesPreclinical studies have been largely completed.，Steadily advancing toward the clinical trial phase。

In 2022, Jinfa Pharmaceutical underwent another significant transformation—The Relocation of R&D Centers from the United States to China，Established R&D and GMP facilities in China starting in March. The company’s U.S. division is fully responsible for clinical trials, regulatory review and submissions, and market expansion in Europe and the United States, thereby fully leveraging the respective advantages of the two countries in talent, markets, and regulatory systems.

For the newly established Chinese team, Jinfar Pharma has currently built two core R&D teams. One is led by a Ph.D. graduate from Yale University, responsible for target identification and antibody engineering.Biology Team, the other is a platform that brings together PhD talents from Tsinghua University, Peking University, Bayer, Pfizer, and othersChemistry Team, the synergy between the two has cemented Jinfar Pharma’s unshakable position as an innovator in ADC drug development.

“What is the most important factor for domestic ADC pharmaceutical companies? It is solid innovation.” Regarding the current development of ADC drugs in China,Dr. Shuhua Xia"In the interview, he/she said:"Following existing targets in Europe and the United States may yield modest gains in overall market operations, but it plays only a minimal role in advancing the development of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) drugs in China.”

Whether through in-depth exploration of targets or payload optimization, the concept of antibody engineering should gradually gain traction among domestic antibody companies.At a time when most antibody companies have already mastered antibody production and engineering technologies, enhancing innovation awareness and establishing a mindset that leverages antibody engineering to facilitate drug R&D will be the direction gradually explored in China.

In the future, Jinfa Pharmaceutical will continue to uphold its innovative mindset. After steadily advancing its existing pipeline, the company will actively expand beyond the realm of oncology.Entering the Field of Central Nervous System (CNS) Diseases, research on therapeutic targets for Parkinson’s syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, and other related conditions is currently progressing in an orderly manner.

Jinfa Pharmaceutical is not only developing individual ADC drugs, but also building a comprehensive ADC drug R&D platform powered by its own sustainable innovation capabilities.From antibody engineering to indication expansion, Jinfa Pharmaceutical’s establishment of its domestic R&D and production team has undoubtedly injected robust momentum into China’s ADC drug development landscape, while also bringing more “breakthrough strategies” to the industry.