[Hinews] Seoul, South Korea — Hyundai ADM Bio, a subsidiary of Hyundai BioScience, announced on August 28, 2025, that an abstract for its novel anticancer drug candidate, Penetrium, has been accepted for a poster presentation at the prestigious AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in 2025. The conference, co-hosted by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), is a globally recognized platform for advancements in cancer therapeutics.

The accepted abstract, titled “Disrupting the Oncobiosphere: CAF-Targeting Therapy with Penetrium Reverses Pseudo-Resistance in Tumors,” presents a novel perspective on the causes of chemotherapy failure. It shifts the focus from traditional genetic resistance to structural barriers within the tumor microenvironment, a concept increasingly recognized in oncology research.

The research highlights the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and the pathological extracellular matrix (ECM) as primary impediments to the efficacy of existing anticancer drugs. Penetrium, a nanohybrid drug derived from niclosamide, selectively targets and disrupts these barriers, restoring the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapies while sparing normal fibroblasts. This approach, termed “structural therapy,” represents a novel paradigm in cancer treatment.



The concept of “pseudo-resistance,” pioneered by Hyundai ADM Bio and Hyundai BioScience, redefines chemotherapy failure as a consequence of the tumor microenvironment’s structural defenses rather than solely genetic mutations. The acceptance of this abstract advances the concept of pseudo-resistance from a company-led hypothesis to a subject of international scientific discussion.

Jin Ho Choi, a distinguished professor at Dankook University and an outside director at Hyundai ADM Bio, emphasized the significance of the findings. “Penetrium is more than a drug candidate; it represents a potential therapeutic strategy that reconsiders the underlying causes of chemotherapy failure and is now gaining international recognition,” he said.

Won Dong Cho, CEO of Hyundai ADM Bio, underscored the milestone’s implications. “This acceptance represents an important milestone in the treatment of metastatic and refractory cancers,” Cho said. “Through global clinical trials and commercialization, we aim to not only provide new treatment options but also lead a transformation in the anticancer paradigm.”

Penetrium’s presentation at AACR-NCI-EORTC 2025 is seen as a pivotal moment for reshaping global strategies in cancer therapy, positioning the drug as a potential game-changer in addressing unmet needs in oncology.