How New ADC Modalities Backed by Samsung Could Shape Solid Tumor Treatment

Samsung Life Science Fund has expanded its activity in next-generation oncology therapeutics with an equity investment in Phrontline Biopharma, a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology, Samsung Bioepis announced on Nov. 25, 2025 (1). The amount of the investment was not disclosed.

Samsung Life Science Fund—established jointly by Samsung C&T, Samsung Biologics, and Samsung Bioepis and managed by Samsung Venture Investment Corporation—identified ADCs as an area of growing strategic importance, reflecting broader industry momentum around targeted therapies for solid tumors (1,2). The investment highlights the biopharmaceutical industry’s continued interest in rethinking the foundational engineering of targeted therapeutics (3).

The investment supports Phrontline Biopharma’s development of its ADCs portfolio, which is designed to address limitations associated with single-target or single-payload approaches, an area that has drawn increasing attention as companies work to improve durability of response and better address tumor heterogeneity (1).

How could new ADC platforms influence oncology drug development?

Phrontline Biopharma’s platform centers on bispecific antibody formats and dual-linker architectures that allow for the simultaneous delivery of two payloads with matched potency (4). The company’s approach aims to enhance payload delivery efficiency and introduce complementary mechanisms of action, which positions these modalities for potential use across tumor types that include lung, head and neck, ovarian, and renal cell cancers (1).

“ADCs are reshaping the future of cancer treatments, and Phrontline Biopharma has demonstrated compelling scientific and development capabilities,” said Minjeong Seo, vice-president and leader, Exploration Team, Samsung Bioepis, in a company press release (1). “Through this investment, Samsung Life Science Fund aims to help accelerate the development of these ADC candidates into viable therapeutic options for oncology patients with unmet medical needs.”

Why is the industry paying attention to dual-payload ADC approaches?

Across the biopharmaceutical industry, companies are working to refine the balance between precision and potency in targeted oncology therapeutics (5). The Samsung Life Science Fund investment underscores the industry’s ongoing effort to improve conjugation strategies, expand the range of actionable targets, and overcome resistance pathways that have challenged earlier generations of these therapies (1,5).

Phrontline Biopharma’s bispecific and dual-payload design reflects a technical trend in which developers aim to introduce more flexibility into ADC constructs (4). Approaches that enable engagement of multiple antigens or delivery of multiple cytotoxic mechanisms are drawing interest from researchers seeking better tumor penetration, reduced off-target toxicity, and improved treatment durability (6).

This direction aligns with broader investment patterns observed across companies exploring next-generation modalities, including antibody-drug conjugates, gene-encoded biologics, and engineered protein formats (7). For Samsung Life Science Fund, this newest investment extends its work in ADC innovation, following previous investments in Araris Biotech and AimedBio—both focused on technologies that support improved conjugation and payload delivery (1,8–11) (see Table).

What could this investment mean for the future of ADC development?

Clinical-stage companies continue to evaluate novel constructs in early studies based on the potential for diversified ADC engineering to influence future standards in solid tumor treatment (12). Samsung Life Science Fund’s decision to broaden its ADC-focused portfolio reflects a recognition that sustained progress in oncology will require new platform solutions rather than incremental modifications to established molecules (1).

While clinical data will ultimately determine the trajectory of these ADC constructs, the investment signals that large-scale biopharmaceutical stakeholders continue to see promise in platform-based ADC innovation (7). This investment also illustrates how partnerships between major industrial players and clinical-stage developers may influence the next wave of oncology biologics entering the pipeline (1,7).

References

1. Samsung Bioepis. Samsung Life Science Fund Invests in Phrontline Biopharma Biopharma to Advance Antibody-Drug Conjugate Therapeutics in Oncology. Press Release. Nov. 25, 2025.
2. Wesson, W.; Ayoobkhan, F. S.; Mahmoudjafari, Z. Characterizing Clinical Trials for CAR T Targeting Solid Tumors from 2018 to 2023: A Systematic Review. J. Clin. Oncol. 2024, 42 (16_suppl), e15080. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.e15080
3. Bielska, W.; Jaszczyszyn, I.; Dudzic, P. et al. Applying Computational Protein Design to Therapeutic Antibody Discovery—Current State and Perspectives. Front. Immunol. 2025, 16, 1571371. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1571371
4. Phrontline Biopharma. Technology Platform. phrontlinebio.com (accessed Nov. 25, 2025).
5. Nygren, P. Precision Cancer Medicine 2025: Some Concerns. Acta Oncol. 2025, 64, 1202–1204. DOI: 10.2340/1651-226X.2025.44604
6. Quinones, S. M.; Yao, L.; Acosta, A. 310 Multi-Antigen Targeting with CAR and TCR Co-Expression in Allogeneic Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer 2024, 12 (Suppl 2).
7. DataM Intelligence 4 Market Research. Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADC) Market Size, Share Analysis, Growth Trends and Forecast 2025–2033. Market Research Report. July 2025.
8. C2N Diagnostics. Samsung Invests in C2N Diagnostics. Press Release. March 13, 2025.
9. Samsung Biologics. Samsung Invests in Generate: Biomedicines to Advance AI-Driven Protein Therapeutics Discovery. Press Release. Dec. 18, 2024.
10. AimedBio. Samsung Chooses AimedBio for its First Domestic Investment with 'Life Science Fund'. Press Release. Sept. 13, 2023.
11. Samsung Biologics. Samsung Biologics Joins Strategic Investment in Araris to Support Collaboration in ADC Therapies. Press Release. April 12, 2023.
12. Heady, D. ASCO: HER3-Targeted Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) Shows Promise for Treatment-Resistant Solid Tumors. uclahealth.org. May 30, 2025.