{
  "id": 12292045,
  "title": "Hanmi Pharmaceutical Unveils FAP-Targeting Anticancer Platform to Address Tumor Microenvironment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/hanmi-pharmaceutical-unveils-fap-targeting-anticancer-platform-to",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-06T03:52:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Korea IT Times",
    "slug": "korea-it-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreaittimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=157836"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Hanmi Pharmaceutical has introduced a novel anticancer platform that targets both cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment, addressing limitations associated with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The company presented preclinical research on a small-molecule drug conjugate (SMDC) targeting fibroblast activation protein (FAP) at Discovery on Target 2026 in Boston. SMDCs are smaller than ADCs, allowing for better penetration of tumor tissue and the tumor microenvironment, which is often dense with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and extracellular matrix components. FAP is highly expressed in CAFs and multiple solid tumors, making it an attractive target. Hanmi used its DNA-Encoded Library screening technology to identify a novel class of small molecules that selectively bind to FAP, developing an SMDC with a cytotoxic payload and a selective activating linker. Preclinical studies demonstrated the SMDC's antitumor activity in mouse models with FAP-expressing cells, showing strong tumor growth inhibition and prolonged survival, particularly in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer model. The approach differs from conventional ADC strategies by targeting FAP expressed by CAFs, potentially broadening the therapeutic approach to address the tumor microenvironment.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}