Cha Biotech to set up JV for new cancer treatment

[THE INVESTOR] Cha Biotech announced on Aug. 3 that it will collaborate with US-based Sorrento Therapeutics in developing immunotherapy.

The research will be conducted by a joint venture between the two companies. 

Cha Biotech will hold 51 percent stake in the company.

Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate in splicing the gene for chimeric antigen receptor into natural killer cells. Chimeric antigen receptor or CAR are engineered to have specificity to selected proteins.

Natural killer cells that express CAR will detect and attack only the cancer cells expressing the protein specific to CAR.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)