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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Samchundang Pharm has pushed back against concerns that its core drug delivery platform, S-PASS, is owned by a Taiwanese firm, asserting that all legal rights to the technology belong exclusively to the company.
In a statement released on April 7, Samchundang said it signed a development agreement in 2018 with Summit Biotech, under which it fully funded research and development—including animal testing and personnel costs—in exchange for full ownership of patents and commercialization rights.
The clarification follows media reports that Summit Biotech filed a patent related to S-PASS in June 2024, raising concerns that a non-affiliated foreign entity held key intellectual property. Some observers also suggested potential breach-of-duty risks if core technology had been transferred externally.
Samchundang explained that, in contract research arrangements common in the pharmaceutical industry, intellectual property rights typically belong to the funding party. It added that Summit’s designation as the patent applicant reflects its role as the research executor, not the ultimate rights holder.
The company further emphasized that the disclosed international patent (WO 2025/255759 A1) demonstrates technological advancement beyond SNAC, a widely used absorption enhancer. S-PASS utilizes a dual-path absorption mechanism combining micelle and biological complexes, enabling rapid efficacy comparable to injectables while protecting peptides from stomach acid and enzymes.
Samchundang stated that the patent would secure exclusive rights to the platform through approximately 2045.
Addressing additional concerns, the company said that its agreements clearly confirm its legal ownership of the technology, and noted that all ongoing projects follow a similar funding structure. It also dismissed questions over Summit Biotech’s credibility, stating that patent filings require a legitimate corporate entity.
Regarding controversy from a recent press briefing—where a partner executive spoke without clearly identifying his affiliation—the company acknowledged “inadequate communication” but described the individual as a long-standing external advisor with relevant expertise.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
