HanchorBio Partners with Taiwan Cancer Moonshot Project to Advance Next-Generation Precision Immuno-Oncology

With the continuous evolution of cancer treatments worldwide, precision oncology is experiencing a growing demand. In response, HanchorBio Inc. (TWSE: 7827), a global, clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to creating next-generation immunotherapies for cancer and immune-mediated conditions, has revealed a new collaboration. The company is teaming up with a National Taiwan University (NTU) research group led by Professor Sung-Liang Yu from the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, which plays a vital role in the Taiwan Cancer Moonshot Project (TCMP). This cross-disciplinary alliance was officially established via a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on August 7, setting the stage for long-term cooperation aimed at accelerating precision immunotherapy and the development of novel cancer therapeutics.

Taiwan Cancer Moonshot Project Drives Asian Tumor Multi-Omics Research

Launched in 2016 through a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), TCMP is a precision-oncology research initiative that joined the US-led Cancer Moonshot initiative. Spearheaded by Academia Sinica and under the leadership of Dr. Yu-Ju Chen, the newly appointed Vice President of Taiwan’s national academy, the Project connects top-notch investigators across Academia Sinica, NTU, and prominent clinical institutions in Taiwan to analyze and characterize the molecular biology of cancers that impact Taiwanese and broader Asian populations.

The project established robust capabilities in cancer genomics and proteomics, integrated multi-omics analysis, and biomarker discovery. The team also contributes to international proteogenomics research through the NCI’s Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) and the International Cancer Proteogenome Consortium (ICPC). Their efforts generated important insights into cancer biology. The team published landmark studies on major cancers in Taiwan, including non-smoking lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) findings in Cell (2020) and a cross-population analysis in Cancer Cell (2025). 

Moreover, in 2026, TCMP published their key research findings in the world-class peer-reviewed scientific journals Gut and Molecular Cancer respectively, where they utilized proteogenomics-based analysis to investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of gastric and breast cancers.

HanchorBio’s Evolution into a Precision Immunotherapy Platform

The strategic collaboration with TCMP marks an important step in HanchorBio’s evolution from a clinical-stage immunotherapy company toward an integrated precision immunology platform. The company utilizes its proprietary Fc-Based Designer Biologics (FBDB™) platform to engineer multi-functional biologics. These innovative therapeutics can activate both innate and adaptive immune pathways to address the limitations of current immunotherapies. 

Currently the company is progressing a pipeline of at least eight novel biologics developed via its FBDB™ platform. Leading the portfolio, the core asset HCB101 and the tri-functional fusion protein HCB301 have transitioned into multi-center clinical trials. Notably, in June 2025, HCB101 secured a milestone $202 million international out-licensing deal, representing the company’s inaugural agreement of this kind.

The partnership strengthens three strategic pillars for HanchorBio’s long-term value creation: 

• Expanding platform differentiation by combining FBDB™ therapeutic engineering with multi-omics research.
• Advancing the translation of local scientific innovation into globally-competitive therapies by connecting Taiwan’s internationally recognized cancer research with HanchorBio’s global development.
• Enhancing clinical development precision through the integration of patient-derived molecular data.

Decoding the Tumor Microenvironment

With the continued progression of cancer immunotherapies, it is becoming vital to identify which patient populations experience clinical benefits and uncover the underlying mechanisms. Dr. Scott Liu, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of HanchorBio, noted that this alliance directly embeds TCMP’s advanced multi-omics expertise into the drug development framework. Together, the entities aim to investigate how combining molecular and immune profiling can guide the creation of next-generation immunotherapies. To achieve this, the partnership has outlined four primary research objectives:

• Discovering prospective biomarkers linked to patient selection, therapeutic response, and mechanisms of drug resistance.
• Elucidating the direct impact of tumor biology on both adaptive and innate immune responses.
• Assessing the interplay between T-cell functional states, macrophage-mediated immune regulation, and clinical outcomes.
• Incorporating patient-specific molecular insights into the clinical development plans for HanchorBio’s pipeline therapeutics.

According to Prof. Sung-Liang Yu, over the past decade, TCMP has compiled an extensive repository of clinical and molecular data through structured research on cancers impacting populations across Taiwan and East Asia. He emphasized that forging close partnerships with clinical-stage biotech companies will help embed these scientific discoveries directly into therapeutic mechanisms and novel drug pipelines. This collaboration aims to validate their practical clinical efficacy, thereby accelerating the transition of academic insights into actionable biomarkers, targeted patient screening methods, and tangible clinical applications.

Five Directions Deepen Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

To translate scientific discoveries into clinical applications, both parties will integrate their expertise across drug R&D, clinical medicine, and artificial intelligence. They aim to establish a translational model moving from patient-derived discovery to molecular and immune insight, leading to biomarker-guided clinical development and ultimately precision immunotherapy. Moving forward, the Hanchor-TCMP alliance will prioritize five key areas:

• Establishing an international precision oncology platform to foster collaborative innovation.
• Utilizing clinical trials and biobanks to accelerate clinical translational research for oncology therapeutics.
• Collaboratively engineering multi-omics technologies, predictive biomarkers, and companion diagnostics.
• Propelling international partnerships alongside innovative intellectual property management.
• Cultivating cross-disciplinary talent endowed with industry-applicable skills and clinical vision.

Leveraging Local Data to Enhance Scientific Insight

During the post-ceremony press conference, Dr. Liu and Prof. Yu shared insights on clinical strategies and local data. Dr. Liu highlighted the extreme complexity of cancer, noting that single drugs rarely achieve a 100% objective response rate. He explained that TCMP’s multi-omics data helps researchers identify specific genetic and protein expression patterns, enabling early and precise patient screening in clinical trials. He stressed that the integration of clinical applications and translational medicine equips HanchorBio with the “scientific depth” essential for negotiating partnerships, licensing agreements, and potential investments with global pharma companies.

Addressing Local Cancer Profiles and Drug Resistance

Over the years, TCMP has accumulated a wealth of data on populations in Taiwan and East Asia. Discussing the unique value of these datasets within the international biotech industry, Prof. Yu noted that most existing cancer drugs in Taiwan were developed and imported from Europe and the U.S.. Yet, due to differences in genetic background, environment, and dietary habits, these drugs often exhibit varied efficacies and side effects in Taiwanese patients when compared with Western cohorts.

For instance, lung cancer has recently emerged as a new “national disease” in Taiwan. In contrast to the Western World, where smoking serves as the primary driver, research reveals that over 50% of Taiwanese lung cancer patients are female, and 94% are non-smokers who present with multiple primary tumors or a family history of the condition. Emphasizing that “national diseases should be treated by the people of the nation themselves,” Prof. Yu expressed his enthusiasm for the growth of emerging local pharma companies like HanchorBio. He hopes that robust industry-academia collaborations will allow both parties to work together closely to improve outcomes for local cancer patients.

Furthermore, Prof. Yu compared HanchorBio’s multi-target fusion proteins to HIV “cocktail therapy.” By blocking multiple pathways simultaneously, this approach prevents tumors from bypassing single-target drugs, ultimately tackling drug resistance as well as prolonging the duration of response and patients’ survival.

Author

Richard Chau