Lonza signs exclusive licensing deal with Qurient for cancer tech

12. Oct 2026

(AWP Alliance News) - Lonza Group Ltd on Monday said it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with South Korea's Qurient Co Ltd to expand its technology offering for developing targeted cancer treatments.

The Basel, Switzerland-based pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing company said the agreement gives it exclusive access to Qurient's cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) inhibitors for use in dual-payload antibody-drug conjugates.

These treatments combine two cancer-fighting drugs in a single antibody, allowing them to target tumour cells through multiple mechanisms at once.

Under the agreement, Lonza will introduce SYN-duo CC, a new dual-payload technology combining the chemotherapy agent exatecan with Qurient's CDK7 inhibitor.

Lonza can also develop additional combinations using Qurient's inhibitors alongside other drug payloads through its existing technology platform.

The company said the partnership would strengthen its position in the growing antibody-drug conjugate market by giving pharmaceutical developers greater flexibility to design and manufacture cancer therapies.

Christian Seufert, head of advanced synthesis at Lonza, said: "Dual-payload ADCs are among the most promising areas of innovation for customers developing differentiated cancer therapies."

He added that the agreement would strengthen Lonza's ability to support customers "from early technology evaluation through development, manufacturing and commercialisation".

Qurient Chief Executive Officer Kiyean Nam said the partnership would expand opportunities to apply its CDK7 inhibitors across a broader range of cancer treatment programmes.

The agreement's financial terms were not disclosed.

Lonza shares were 0.6% higher at CHF575.80 in Zurich on Monday afternoon.

By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News senior economics reporter

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