JY BioMed's HCAb-ADC Technology Earns National Innovation Award, Advancing International Licensing

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JY BioMed's core leadership team (from left): CEO Dr. Adam Chen, Chairman Dr. Ethan Shen, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Benjamin Zhang, united in advancing the company's ADC international licensing strategy. Photo courtesy of JY BioMed.

Taiwan-based biotech company JY BioMed has achieved a series of landmark milestones for its proprietary Heavy Chain Antibody Drug Conjugate (HCAb-ADC) platform. Originally developed through technology transfer from Taipei Medical University (TMU) and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), the platform's pioneering academic research has been honored with the 22nd National Innovation Award (Academic Innovation Category). Research findings have been published in the prestigious international oncology journal Cancer Letters, and in July 2025, the U.S. FDA granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for pancreatic cancer. With these consecutive milestones, Taiwan's independently developed ADC technology has firmly entered the global arena.

What is an Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC)?

An Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) links a cancer-specific antibody to a cytotoxic drug, enabling precise delivery to tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Unlike conventional chemotherapy, which acts systemically throughout the body, ADC functions more like a targeted strike — directing treatment to where it is needed most.

*An overview of the mechanism of action of Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) and a comparison with conventional cancer treatments.*

Breaking Through the Blood-Brain Barrier: Impressive Preclinical Data

Unlike conventional IgG-based platforms (~150 kDa), JY BioMed employs a camelid-derived heavy chain variable region (VHH) design, reducing the molecular weight to approximately 80 kDa. The antibody targets glycosylated CEACAM6, enabling penetration of the blood-brain barrier while overcoming glycosylation masking. Preclinical results demonstrate a 48.5% tumor volume reduction in brain metastasis models, a minimum effective dose (MED) of only 0.04 mg/kg in colorectal cancer models, picomolar-level antibody affinity, and a promising initial safety profile.

Targeting Three Major Cancer Types, Pursuing International Licensing

ADC has become one of the most actively pursued licensing targets in the global pharmaceutical industry. Major multinationals including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and AbbVie have committed significant investment to the space in recent years, with the global ADC market projected to reach USD 32.66 billion by 2035.¹

JY BioMed's platform currently covers three primary indications — lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer — with potential extension to breast and ovarian cancers. FDA Orphan Drug Designation provides seven years of U.S. market exclusivity, regulatory fee waivers, and priority review eligibility. The company plans to actively pursue international licensing partnerships following completion of formal toxicology studies and IND submission.

Dr. Ethan Shen, Founder and Chairman of JY BioMed, stated: "The recognition of our TMU-transferred ADC technology through the National Innovation Award validates the foresight of our platform selection. We will accelerate our international licensing strategy and bring Taiwan's biotech innovation to the global stage."

JY BioMed and its clinical regulatory consulting partner, Yujun Biotech, are co-located at the TMU Shuanghe BioMedical Park, continuously deepening an industry-academia collaboration network across ADC, GDT, and UC-MSC technology platforms.

Leadership Team: International Capital Markets and Industry Governance Expertise

JY BioMed's core team brings deep expertise in international capital markets and biotech industry governance. Founder and Chairman Dr. Ethan Shen is also the Founder and CEO of Nasdaq-listed YD Bio (YDES), with over 20 years of experience in Asia-Pacific biotech capital markets, leading multiple cross-border technology licensing and capital integration transactions. CEO Dr. Adam Chen previously served as Director-General of the Hsinchu Science Park Administration Bureau, contributing extensive expertise in industrial policy planning and technology management. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Benjamin Zhang, who concurrently serves as a senior executive at YD Bio, combines clinical medicine and biotech industry backgrounds to lead the company's clinical development strategy and medical partnership initiatives.

About JY BioMed

JY BioMed is a diversified Taiwan biotech platform company whose core technologies encompass Heavy Chain Antibody Drug Conjugates (HCAb-ADC), GammaDelta T (GDT) cells, Umbilical Cord-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UC-MSC), and Exosomes. The GDT platform has achieved international technology licensing; the ADC platform holds core patents covering CEACAM6-targeting antibodies and ADC-related technologies. Multiple platforms have established long-term industry-academia collaborations with Taipei Medical University, spanning the full continuum from early research to clinical development.