ReCerise and NCCS Forge Strategic Research Collaboration to Advance Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment
ReCerise Therapeutics Inc. (“ReCerise”), a pioneering biotechnology company dedicated to the research and development of first-in-class oncology therapeutics, has officially announced a groundbreaking research collaboration with the National Cancer Centre Singapore (“NCCS”). This partnership aims to develop innovative treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), leveraging advanced multi-omics data analyses to address the complexities of this highly aggressive cancer.
HCC is one of the most prevalent types of liver cancer worldwide, especially in Asia, where it accounts for a significant portion of cancer-related mortality. The disease is notoriously challenging to treat due to its late-stage diagnosis, rapid progression, and low response rates to existing immunotherapy options. With this collaboration, ReCerise and NCCS seek to unlock new therapeutic possibilities that could revolutionize HCC treatment and improve patient outcomes.
A Collaborative Effort Under the PLANet Programme
This research initiative will be conducted as part of the PLANet programme (Precision Medicine in Liver Cancer across an Asia-Pacific Network), a large-scale precision medicine initiative conceptualized and led by NCCS. The PLANet programme focuses on addressing the intra-tumoral heterogeneity of liver tumors and their highly dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME). Given the complexity of HCC, the programme employs a longitudinal approach that involves comprehensive multi-omics profiling of tumor and blood samples from liver cancer patients.
Through this collaboration, ReCerise will leverage the extensive multi-omics data collected under the PLANet programme to enhance its research and development efforts. The collaboration will be led by Professor Pierce Chow Kah Hoe, a world-renowned expert in HCC research. Prof. Chow is a Senior Consultant Surgeon in the Division of Surgery and Surgical Oncology at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and NCCS, and serves as the principal investigator of the PLANet programme. His leadership and deep expertise in the field will be instrumental in guiding the research towards meaningful breakthroughs.
RCT1213: A Promising Therapeutic Candidate for HCC
At the core of this collaboration is RCT1213, an innovative hepatocellular carcinoma treatment candidate currently under development by ReCerise. The company aims to conduct multi-faceted studies to evaluate the drug’s development potential by utilizing NCCS’s extensive omics data and research database of Asian HCC patients. The integration of real-world patient data will help confirm the drug target’s expression and assess its impact on the liver microenvironment.
Yong-Bae Kim, CEO of ReCerise Therapeutics, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating:
“We are excited to collaborate with NCCS to accelerate the development of an innovative new drug for the treatment of liver cancer that ReCerise has been working toward. Through this joint research, we plan to conduct multi-faceted studies on the development potential of RCT1213 by utilizing the various omics data and research database of Asian HCC patients at NCCS.”
The ability to analyze and interpret large-scale omics data is critical to the development of precision medicine strategies for liver cancer. By identifying key molecular and genetic factors that drive HCC progression, researchers can design targeted therapies that offer higher efficacy and improved patient outcomes.
Addressing an Urgent Unmet Medical Need
HCC remains a major global health challenge, particularly in Asia, where the disease is often associated with chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis B and C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and cirrhosis. Despite advancements in cancer therapy, HCC continues to have a high mortality rate due to limited effective treatment options and late-stage diagnosis.
Existing treatments for HCC include surgical resection, liver transplantation, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), targeted therapies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, many patients either do not respond to these treatments or develop resistance over time. This underscores the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches that can address the limitations of current treatment paradigms.
ReCerise was founded with the vision of developing innovative therapeutic modalities to tackle such unmet medical needs. The company’s research has primarily focused on a liver-specific protein that has shown promise as a potential therapeutic target. Initial proof-of-concept studies have demonstrated encouraging results, and this collaboration with NCCS will enable further exploration of the target’s role in HCC pathogenesis and therapeutic potential.
The Role of Multi-Omics in Liver Cancer Research
Multi-omics research—encompassing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics—provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecular landscape of liver cancer. This approach is crucial for uncovering novel biomarkers, identifying key signaling pathways, and developing personalized treatment strategies.
By integrating multi-omics data from the PLANet programme, researchers will be able to:
- Characterize tumor heterogeneity: Understanding how different subpopulations of tumor cells evolve within the liver microenvironment can help tailor targeted therapies.
- Identify predictive biomarkers: Biomarker discovery is essential for developing diagnostic tools and selecting patients who are most likely to benefit from specific treatments.
- Enhance drug development: The ability to analyze patient-derived data in real-time accelerates the identification of potential drug candidates and improves the efficiency of clinical trial design.
Government Support and Funding
This research collaboration between ReCerise and NCCS is being supported by the Korean government as part of a broader initiative to advance biopharmaceutical innovation. The project is subject to the management and supervision of the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), an organization dedicated to fostering industrial R&D and supporting technological advancements in various fields.
Government-backed initiatives like this play a critical role in driving pharmaceutical research and accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical applications. By fostering international collaborations and investing in cutting-edge research, countries like South Korea and Singapore are positioning themselves as leaders in the global biotechnology landscape.
