Dortmund/Seoul, January 15th, 2026 – QLi5 Therapeutics GmbH (QLi5) announced today the successful completion of a capital increase totaling approximately 6.26 million Euro. This strategic investment, significantly backed by the Korean biotech company Qurient and by QLi5 co-founder and Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Robert Huber, is intended to decisively advance the development of QLi5’s pioneering Proteasome Inhibitor (PI)-based Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) platform.

Details on Capital Increase and Strategic Alignment

During a General Meeting held on December 18th, 2025, QLi5 resolved to implement a capital increase totaling 6.26 million Euro. Qurient’s participation substantially increases the company’s voting stake in QLi5. Particularly noteworthy is the continued participation of Prof. Dr. Robert Huber, co-founder of QLi5 and 1988 Nobel laureate in Chemistry, which underscores his deep confidence in QLi5’s technological expertise and future potential.

The new funds will be specifically used to advance the development of the PI-payload technology. This next-generation ADC platform represents a promising new alternative that aims to overcome the limitations of existing ADC therapeutics.

Impressive Preclinical Results and Universal Potential

In October 2025, QLi5 and Qurient presented compelling preclinical research results for PI-payload-based ADCs at the international conference „AACR-NCI-EORTC 2025“ in Boston. These garnered significant interest from experts and the pharmaceutical industry. The presentation demonstrated that the PI-payload, as a novel mechanism of action, showed excellent anti-cancer efficacy in animal models that were resistant to conventional TOP1-inhibitor-based ADCs, such as Enhertu. The potential as a „universal payload“ was also confirmed, as its efficacy is not limited to specific cancer cell types but could be demonstrated across various cell types and target models.

A Strong Joint Venture with an Excellent Scientific Foundation

QLi5 Therapeutics was founded as a joint venture by Qurient in collaboration with Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), Max Planck Society (MPG), and Prof. Dr. Robert Huber. Prof. Dr. Huber, a renowned structural biologist, received his Nobel Prize in Chemistry for being the first to decipher the three-dimensional structure of the proteasome, a cellular proteolytic apparatus. Building on his findings and the subsequent drug discovery work by LDC, QLi5 has developed a next-generation therapeutic approach that drastically reduces the side effects of previous proteasome inhibitors and can extend its spectrum of application to various cancer types.

Kiyean Nam, CEO of Qurient, commented: „This capital increase is far more than mere financing; it is a strategic decision to fully unlock the enormous potential of QLi5’s PI-mechanism technology as a next-generation ADC payload. With the continued support of Prof. Dr. Robert Huber and the strong network of LDC and MPG, we will accelerate development to become a gamechanger in the global ADC market.“

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About Lead Discovery Center

Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC) was established in 2008 by the technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation, as a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for diseases with high medical need. LDC takes on promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies that reach initial proof-of-concept in animals as well as candidate nomination. In close collaboration with high-profile partners from research and industry, LDC is building a strong and growing portfolio of small molecule and antibody leads with exceptional medical and commercial potential.

LDC sustains a long-term partnership with the Max Planck Society and its institutes as well as with KHAN Technology Transfer Fund, and has formed numerous alliances with pharma and biotech companies, in particular with JT Pharmaceuticals (now: Shionogi) as well as AstraZeneca, Bayer, Merck KGaA, Qurient, InvIOS, Cumulus Oncology, Nodus Oncology, KinSea Lead Discovery, HLB Life Science R&D, KyDo Therapeutics and the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, e.g. In addition, LDC also works with leading translational drug discovery centers and in addition to a preferred partnership with KHAN with various investors to provide its assets for company creation.

Further information at: www.lead-discovery.de

About Qurient

Qurient Co., Ltd. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in South Korea and listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX: 115180). The company is focused on developing innovative medicines and targeted therapies across oncology and infectious diseases.

Further information at: www.qurient.com

About QLi5 Therapeutics

QLi5 was founded in 2019 as a joint venture of Qurient Co. Ltd, Korea, Max Planck Society, Germany, LDC, Germany, Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Robert Huber, emeritus director of the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Germany. The company has previously secured funding from a renowned group of investors, KHAN Technology Transfer Fund among others.

Further information at: www.qli5tx.com

About KHAN Technology Transfer Fund

KHAN Technology Transfer Fund (KHAN) is an early-stage life sciences venture fund, supported by its limited partners, European Investment Fund (EIF), Luxembourg, Max-Planck Foundation, Germany, Thyssen’sche Handelsgesellschaft, Germany, Austrian Wirtschaftsservice, Austria and Akros Pharma, USA. Its mission is to create value through cooperative drug development partnerships with academic innovators in Europe. KHAN focuses on first-in-class therapies for attractive markets with a high unmet medical need. KHAN has unique access to cutting-edge scientific research at Max Planck and leading European academia. KHAN is managed by Khanu Fondsverwaltung GmbH, a world class drug discovery and fund team, having access to the state-of-the-art drug discovery incubator Lead Discovery Center GmbH, achieving an exceptional low attrition rate and effective investments.

Further information at: www.khanu.de

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Contact:

Lead Discovery Center GmbH

E-mail: pr@lead-discovery.de

See also: Qurient source press release

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Dortmund / Bad Oeynhausen, 26. November 2025. Etwa vier Millionen Menschen in Deutschland leiden an der lebensbedrohlichen Erkrankung Herzinsuffizienz (Herzschwäche). Bei 50% von ihnen kommen verfügbare Medikamente nicht infrage oder wirken nur unzureichend. Forschende und Kardiolog:innen am Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS, der Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC) und am Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW (HDZ NRW) möchten die Therapiemöglichkeiten bei Herzschwäche erweitern. Sie arbeiten an der Entwicklung neuer Wirkstoffe, um die Versorgung und Lebensqualität von Patient:innen gezielt zu verbessern. Ihr neues Forschungsprojekt „HI-FIVE – GRK5-Inhibitoren zur Therapie verschiedener Herzinsuffizienz-Entitäten (HI-FIVE)“ fördern NRW-Landesregierung und EU mit rund 2,1 Mio. Euro.

Bei einer Herzinsuffizienz pumpt das Herz nicht mehr ausreichend Blut durch den Körper. In der Folge werden die Organe nur unzureichend mit Sauerstoff und Nährstoffen versorgt. Betroffene klagen über Leistungsabfall, Kurzatmigkeit, Müdigkeit und bei fortgeschrittener Erkrankung über Wassereinlagerungen im Gewebe. Doch Herzinsuffizienz ist nicht gleich Herzinsuffizienz, es gibt verschiedene Ausprägungen: „Während bei Männern eine reduzierte Herzleistung die häufigste Ursache für eine Herzinsuffizienz ist, führt bei Frauen eine verringerte Erschlaffungsfunktion des Herzmuskels zu einer geringeren Füllung der linken Herzkammer“, erläutert Prof. Dr. Tanja Rudolph, Oberärztin der Klinik für Allgemeine und Interventionelle Kardiologie / Angiologie am HDZ NRW.

Neuer therapeutischer Ansatz adressiert Schlüsselenzym

Die verschiedenen Ausprägungen der Erkrankung erschweren für die Hälfte der Betroffenen eine adäquate Therapie mit den derzeit verfügbaren Arzneimitteln. In einem Vorläuferprojekt haben die Forschenden Wirkstoffe identifiziert, die das bei Herzinsuffizienz hochregulierte Schlüsselenzym GRK5 hemmen. Diese GRK5-Inhibitoren möchten die Projektpartner im HI-FIVE Projekt nun weiter optimieren, um den Weg für eine neue, gezielt wirkende Therapie zu ebnen. „Wir werden bei diesem Forschungsprojekt geschlechts- und altersspezifische Aspekte der Herzschwäche berücksichtigen. Dies ist dringend erforderlich, da Alter und weibliches Geschlecht immer noch in den meisten präklinischen und klinischen Studien unterrepräsentiert sind“, sagt Prof. Dr. Kristina Lorenz, Abteilungsleiterin Translationale Forschung am ISAS. Die Pharmakologin koordiniert das Projekt HI-FIVE.

Entwicklung von präklinischen Wirkstoffkandidaten

Bis Menschen mit Herzschwäche künftig von einer neuen Therapieoption profitieren können, ist noch viel Forschung und Entwicklung erforderlich. Damit die Translation – die Übertragung der neuen Erkenntnisse in die Anwendung – gelingt, arbeiten die Wissenschaftler:innen und Mediziner:innen während des dreijährigen präklinischen Forschungsprojekts eng zusammen. HI-FIVE baut auf GRK5-Inhibitor-Leitstrukturen auf, die das LDC zuvor mittels Hochdurchsatzscreening identifiziert und optimiert hat. Die vielversprechendsten Kandidaten für eine gute orale Aufnahme und zielgerichtete Wirkung mit möglichst wenigen Nebenwirkungen werden nun im HI-FIVE Projekt weiter entwickelt. Für ein tieferes Verständnis der Herzschwäche werden am HDZ NRW 500 Patient:innen ein Jahr lang mit Blick auf die Symptome und Ausprägung ihrer Erkrankung untersucht. Die Wirksamkeit der GRK5-Inhibitoren erforschen die Wissenschaftler:innen in menschlichen Herzmuskelzellen aus Stammzellen und bei Mäusen. „Am Ende des Projekts wollen wir mit einem präklinischen Wirkstoffkandidaten den nächsten wichtigen Meilenstein in Richtung klinische Anwendung erreichen, und damit neue Behandlungsoptionen für Millionen von Patient:innen mit Herzschwäche schaffen”, ergänzt Bert Klebl, CEO and CSO am LDC.

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Einen regelmäßigen Einblick für Laien zum Thema Herzschwäche und in die Forschung bei HI-FIVE gibt es via www.linkedin.com/company/hi-five-forschung.

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Über HI-FIVE

„HI-FIVE – GRK5-Inhibitoren zur Therapie verschiedener Herzinsuffizienz-Entitäten“ ist im Juli 2025 gestartet. Die NRW-Landesregierung und die Europäische Union fördern das Forschungsprojekt mit ca. 2,1 Mio. Euro in den folgenden drei Jahren. Das Projekt ist eine Kooperation zwischen dem Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS – e. V., der Lead Discovery Center GmbH sowie dem Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW (ausführende Stelle der Ruhr-Universität Bochum): https://www.isas.de/en/research/research-projects/joint-project-on-heart-failure-hi-five.

Lead Discovery Center GmbH

Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC) ist ein translationales Forschungsunternehmen, welches exzellente Grundlagenforschung in die Entwicklung neuer, dringend benötigter Medikamente überführt. LDC nimmt vielversprechende Projekte aus der akademischen Forschung auf und entwickelt sie typischerweise weiter bis zu pharmazeutischen Leitstrukturen oder präklinischen Kandidaten. In enger Zusammenarbeit mit führenden Partnern aus der akademischen Forschung und Industrie entwickelt LDC ein umfangreiches Portfolio an Projekten im Bereich niedermolekularer Wirkstoffe sowie therapeutische Antikörper mit außergewöhnlich hohem medizinischem und kommerziellem Potenzial.

LDC unterhält eine enge Partnerschaft mit der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft und dem KHAN Technology Transfer Fund (KHAN-I/-II). Es hat weltweit zahlreiche Kooperationen mit verschiedenen Organisationen geschlossen, u.a. AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Daiichi Sankyo, Qurient, invIOs, Novo Nordisk, Cumulus Oncology, Nodus Oncology, JT Pharmaceuticals, KinSea Lead Discovery, KyDo Therapeutics, HLB Life Science. LDC arbeitet außerdem mit führenden akademischen Wirkstoffforschungszentren und Investoren zusammen, um Firmengründungen zu unterstützen.

ISAS

Das Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS – e.V. – entwickelt leistungsfähige Analyseverfahren für die Gesundheitsforschung. Mit seinen Innovationen trägt es dazu bei, die Prävention, Frühdiagnose und Therapie von beispielsweise Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen zu verbessern. Ziel des Forschungsinstituts ist es, die personalisierte Therapie voranzutreiben. Dafür kombiniert das ISAS das Wissen aus Chemie, Biologie, Medizin, Pharmakologie, Physik und Informatik. Das Dortmunder Institut kooperiert mit nationalen und internationalen Partnern aus der Wissenschaft und Industrie. https://www.isas.de/en.

Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW

Als Spezialklinik zur Behandlung von Herz-, Kreislauf- und Diabeteserkrankungen zählt das Herz- und Diabeteszentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen (HDZ NRW), Bad Oeynhausen, mit 40.500 Patient:innen pro Jahr, davon 14.300 in stationärer Behandlung, sowie 1.300 ambulanten Operationen zu den größten und modernsten Zentren seiner Art in Europa. Unter einem Dach arbeiten fünf Universitätskliniken und drei Universitäts-Institute seit mehr als 40 Jahren interdisziplinär zusammen. Das HDZ NRW ist seit 1989 Universitätsklinik der Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Die Professorenschaft des HDZ NRW ist zusätzlich seit 2023 Mitglied der Medizinischen Fakultät OWL der Universität Bielefeld. Die Einrichtung ist bekannt als größtes Herztransplantationszentrum in Deutschland. www.hdz-nrw.de/.

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Kontakt: pr@lead-discovery.de

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Bordeaux, May 15^th, 2025 – On May 6–7, Bordeaux hosted the 10th edition of MEET2WIN, the European partnering convention dedicated to the fight against cancer. Organised by the French platform MATWIN (a 100% subsidiary of Unicancer), the event brought together more than 300 international stakeholders – researchers, major groups, biotechs, startups, investors, and support organizations – united by a shared ambition: to accelerate innovation in oncology.

A unique platform in Europe, MATWIN has been bringing together the academia, industrial, and entrepreneurial world for 15 years to accelerate the transformation of research projects into concrete clinical solutions. This model is powered by the commitment of 14 pharmaceutical company partners*, which directly involve their R&D World executive decision-makers to evaluate and support innovation with a high medical impact in the field.

‘As a key and valuable player in this innovation pipeline, our MATWIN subsidiary has already supported nearly 500 projects, enabled the creation of over 50 startups, trained almost 250 entrepreneurs, and contributed to launching numerous clinical trials over the past fifteen years. This is an outstanding achievement for such a small organization!’ — reports Jean-Yves Blay, President of Unicancer.

Fabrice Barlesi, President of MATWIN and CEO of Gustave Roussy comments: ‘MATWIN is a key driver of innovation in oncology, working in synergy with the recently established Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster. It is only by joining forces that the ecosystem will be able to truly transform research into concrete solutions for patients.’

MEET2WIN, a catalyst for innovation at the heart of the European ecosystem

The MEET2WIN convention, the high point of this dynamic, has established itself as a strategic crossroads between science, funding and technology transfer, a catalyst for added value and growth.

One of the event’s highlights was the selection of the three awarded 2025 projects by the prestigious MATWIN international board, uniting Oncology R&D decision-makers from the 14 partner pharma companies and academic experts from leading European cancer research centres.

• Best drug-based Innovation: Developed at the Lead Discovery Center (LDC) in Dortmund, Germany, Tim Bergbrede’s project has led to a novel inhibitor of POLRMT – a key enzyme in cancer cell proliferation. This first-in-class preclinical candidate compound, already patented by the LDC, has shown safety, selectivity, and efficacy in multiple animal models in mono and combination therapy. It offers promising potential for the treatment of breast cancer, lymphoma, and other currently untreatable cancers.
• Best Technological Innovation: Founded in 2024 and based in Saint-Mande, Brink Therapeutics is developing next-generation recombinase technology to revolutionize genome editing. Using an approach combining directed evolution, metagenomic exploration, and Artificial Intelligence, this TechBio designs enzymes capable of inserting, deleting or modifying DNA sequences with unprecedented precision, paving the way for safer and more effective gene therapies. Its main objectives is to enable the production of CAR-T cells directly in the body, making theses therapies more accessible on a large scale.
• Best Precision Medicine / Diagnostic Innovation: Co-founded in 2020 by Institut Curie and Home Biosciences, One Biosciences is developing a groundbreaking technology that analyzes cancer cells one by one, from patient samples. By combining single-cell technologies and artificial intelligence, it uncovers the molecular mechanisms driving each tumor’s behavior and resistance to treatment. This enables clinicians to make more informed therapeutic decisions and helps biopharma improve clinical trial outcomes – opening the door to more effective, personalized, and targeted precision medicine.

These three projects have all benefited from the MATWIN accelerator programme, a six-month strategic support package including mentoring/coaching, early due diligence and preparation for meetings with industry. A support which proved to be decisive for over 300 accompanied projects since the program was launched in 2009.

In addition to the MATWIN board, other panels also awarded a number of companies during the event:

• The OUI jury (Oncology Upward Investment) – composed of around 15 European investors –awarded two promising companies for their investment potential: Pan Cancer T (Netherlands) and Evariste (UK).
• The QUICK PITCH jury, composed of MATWIN board members and the full MEET2WIN audience, awarded two innovative projects led by Recobia Therapeutics (Strasbourg) and Pan Cancer T (Netherlands).

This was another successful operation for MATWIN for this 10th anniversary edition of MEET2WIN which confirmed the growing impact of the event, with nearly 300 European participants, over 1,000 business meetings, around 30 speakers, and high-level conferences on immuno-oncology, Artificial Intelligence, paediatric oncology, innovation business models, and pathways to translating research into real solutions for patients.

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About MATWIN

MATWIN, a 100% subsidiary of Unicancer, is a French open-innovation platform dedicated exclusively to oncology. For the past 16 years, the platform has offered various support actions (expertise, accelerator programs, events, etc.) to boost the development of innovative cancer-related projects. Its activities are backed by a longstanding partnership with 14 global pharma companies committed to advancing impactful innovation in oncology* (Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, Exact Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, insitro, MSD, Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, Sanofi, Servier, and Takeda). Since 2021, MATWIN also coordinates the OncoSTART consortium dedicated to oncology entrepreneurship, which brings together 14 expert organizations in cancer research and innovation.

MATWIN press contact: Lucia Robert – lucia.robert@matwin.fr

About LDC

Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC) was established in 2008 by the technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation, as a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for diseases with high medical need. LDC takes on promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies that reach initial proof-of-concept in animals as well as candidate nomination. In close collaboration with high-profile partners from research and industry, LDC is building a strong and growing portfolio of small molecule and antibody leads with exceptional medical and commercial potential.

LDC sustains a long-term partnership with the Max Planck Society and its institutes as well as with KHAN-I and KHAN-II, and has formed alliances with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Daiichi Sankyo, Qurient, InvIOS, Novo Nordisk, Cumulus Oncology, Nodus Oncology, JT Pharmaceuticals, KinSea Lead Discovery AS, HLB Pharma, the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, e.g. In addition, LDC also works with leading translational drug discovery centers and with various investors to provide its assets for company creation.

Further information available at: www.lead-discovery.de

About KHAN-I

KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I GmbH & Co KG (KHAN-I) is an early-stage life sciences venture fund with € 70 million under management. Their mission is to create value through cooperative drug development partnerships with academic innovators in Europe. KHAN-I focuses on first-in-class therapies for attractive markets with a high unmet medical need. The fund is managed by Khanu Management GmbH, an experienced team of professionals with proven track records in early-stage drug development and academic spin-offs as well as pharma licensing and partnering. KHAN-I received an investment from the European Investment Fund (EIF) with the support of InnovFin Equity, and with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) under the Investment Plan for Europe.

KHAN-I is also supported by Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (AWS with funds provided by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs and the Austrian Foundation for Research, Technology, and Development), Max Planck Foundation, and Thyssen’sche Handelsgesellschaft mbH. In addition, KHAN-I sustains a preferred partnership with the Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft e.V.).

Further information available at: www.khanu.de

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Contact: pr@lead-discovery.de

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