![[Bio USA] GI Innovation unveils next-gen immunotherapy pipeline](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F06%2F18%2Fnews-p.v1.20250618.d08a9f94aea74f3da95329681a945806_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
[Bio USA] GI Innovation unveils next-gen immunotherapy pipeline
Leading the presentation was Yun Nari, head of GI Innovation's clinical strategy, who introduced the company's new drug development pipeline and global business roadmap. A licensed pharmacist, Yun joined the company's board of directors in March and is expected to play a pivotal role in accelerating clinical decision-making, an essential function in GI Innovation's core business of clinical-stage drug development.
A key highlight was the unveiling of GI-128, a novel immuno-oncology candidate that leverages macrophage engagement, an emerging target in next-generation cancer therapies. The company also spotlighted its trispecific antibody pipeline, designed to surpass the current generation of aPD-(L)1/VEGF bispecific antibodies, which are gaining significant traction in the global oncology space.
'This year's Bio USA is a premier platform that brings together leading global investors and pharmaceutical companies,' said Jang Myoung-ho, CEO and founder of GI Innovation. 'It presented the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the competitiveness of our pipeline and global expansion strategy. We plan to actively explore a variety of partnership opportunities, including technology licensing, co-development deals and strategic investments.'
Meanwhile, the growing interest in aPD-(L)1/VEGF bispecific antibodies in the immuno-oncology sector has led to a surge in high-value deals. Bristol Myers Squibb recently entered into a licensing agreement with German biotech firm BioNTech, paying an upfront sum of approximately $1.5 billion, with the total deal valued at around $11.1 billion. Likewise, Merck & Co. signed a deal last year with China-based LaNova Medicines, worth $588 million upfront and up to $2.7 billion in milestone payments.
Building on this trend, GI Innovation's trispecific antibody platform integrates the company's proprietary aPD-L1 antibody, a VEGF antibody and a macrophage engager into a single molecule. The design aims to overcome the therapeutic limitations of bispecific antibodies by stimulating a more robust immune response within the tumor microenvironment, the company explained.
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