Lonza is expanding its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology portfolio through an exclusive licensing agreement with South Korean biopharmaceutical company Qurient, gaining access to Qurient’s cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) inhibitors for use in dual-payload ADC applications.

The agreement brings Qurient’s clinical-stage CDK7 inhibitor technology into Lonza’s proprietary ADC platform. The collaboration’s first offering, SYN-duo CC, combines exatecan, a topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) inhibitor, with Qurient’s CDK7 inhibitor in a ready-to-use linker-payload format for ADC development. The arrangement also allows Lonza to explore additional combinations of Qurient’s CDK7 inhibitor with other payloads through its existing dual-payload technology platform.

Dual-payload ADCs are designed to deliver two distinct cytotoxic agents to targeted cells using a single antibody. The approach aims to engage complementary biological mechanisms within the same therapeutic construct, potentially creating opportunities to develop differentiated cancer treatments. SYN-duo CC pairs a camptothecin-derived TOP1 inhibitor with a selective CDK7 inhibitor. CDK7 plays a role in transcriptional regulation and cell-cycle control, making it a target of interest in oncology drug development.

The combination is intended to allow CDK7 inhibition to enhance the activity of the TOP1 inhibitor. The therapeutic potential of this approach will depend on further evaluation of the specific construct and its performance in development. For ADC developers, the preconfigured linker-payload offers a starting point for evaluating the dual-payload strategy without having to develop the initial combination from scratch. Lonza can also use the licensed technology to investigate customized formats pairing Qurient’s CDK7 inhibitor with other payloads.

The agreement adds to Lonza’s efforts to broaden its proprietary technology offering alongside its contract development and manufacturing services. The company supports ADC programs across multiple stages, including technology evaluation, development and manufacturing. Christian Seufert, Head of Advanced Synthesis at Lonza, says the collaboration would expand the options available to customers designing next-generation ADCs. The company plans to offer SYN-duo CC alongside customizable dual-payload formats, giving developers additional flexibility when selecting payload combinations for new programs.

Qurient CEO Kiyean Nam says the agreement would extend the potential application of the company’s CDK7 inhibitors by combining its expertise in the target with Lonza’s ADC technology and development capabilities.

The deal reflects continued interest in ADC designs that incorporate multiple active agents to address the challenges of cancer treatment. Although conventional ADCs typically deliver a single cytotoxic payload, dual-payload approaches seek to combine different mechanisms of action within one targeted delivery system. The strategy introduces additional design considerations, including payload compatibility, linker stability, drug-to-antibody ratio, manufacturing complexity and the ability to deliver both agents effectively to target cells.

Lonza’s access to Qurient’s CDK7 inhibitors provides another component for exploring these designs. In addition to SYN-duo CC, the companies’ agreement gives Lonza the ability to pursue further payload combinations using its existing platform. The companies have positioned the collaboration as a technology and development opportunity for ADC programs. The announcement did not provide details on specific customer programs, development timelines or clinical milestones for SYN-duo CC.

For more information, visit www.lonza.com.