CHA Vaccine jumps on ownership change…HLB Pep gains on Japan CDMO deal[K-Bio Pulse]

[Jiwan Kim, Edaily Reporter] On the 19th, domestic biotech and healthcare stocks showed a broad rally, driven by different catalysts including governance changes, clinical events, and global contracts.

CHA Vaccine Institute surged on expectations of business restructuring following a change in its largest shareholder. Rznomics gained on anticipation ahead of its upcoming interim clinical data release. HLB Pep climbed as its customized therapy CDMO deal boosted investor sentiment.



CHA Vaccine hits limit on ownership change

CHA Vaccine Institute soared after news of a change in its largest shareholder. CHA Biotech agreed to transfer its stake to Solux, effectively handing over management control. The market interpreted this as a signal of business restructuring and new growth potential.

According to KG Zeroin MP Doctor (formerly MarketPoint), the stock closed at 4,085 won, up 940 won (29.89%) from the previous day.

CHA Biotech will transfer 8,948,813 shares (33.31%) of CHA Vaccine Institute to Solux and Ari Bio investment funds. Upon completion, Solux and other investors will become the largest shareholders, with Solux securing a 14.69% stake and effectively taking control. Other investors, including Ari Bio Investment No. 13 and 15 funds and Terra Battery Solution, will hold smaller stakes.

The total deal size is about 23.8 billion won. The down payment has been made, while the interim payment will be made through convertible bonds issued by Solux. The remaining balance will be paid by the end of next month. CHA Biotech’s stake will be reduced to about 4.99%, maintaining a minimal holding for strategic collaboration and investment value.

Solux aims to transform from a lighting-focused business into a biotech-driven company. It plans to build a biotech portfolio by linking CHA Vaccine Institute with Ari Bio, in which it is the largest shareholder. Ari Bio is advancing its Alzheimer’s treatment AR1001 in global phase 3 trials, while CHA Vaccine Institute has an immune adjuvant platform and vaccine pipelines.

Through this, Solux secures dual growth engines: neurodegenerative disease therapeutics and immune/vaccine platforms. The combination is expected to diversify risk and expand corporate value.

Rznomics rises ahead of interim clinical data presentation

Rznomics is gaining momentum as expectations build ahead of its interim clinical data release for a liver cancer gene therapy candidate. The upcoming oral presentation at a global conference is seen as a key validation point.

The company will present interim results of its phase 1b/2a trial of RZ-001 at the AACR 2026 conference in San Diego from April 17 to 22, with the presentation scheduled for April 19.

The study targets hTERT-positive hepatocellular carcinoma patients and evaluates a combination of RNA-based gene therapy, ganciclovir, and anti-VEGF/PD-L1 antibodies. Although detailed data are not disclosed in the abstract, the selection for oral presentation is considered meaningful.

RZ-001 uses a trans-splicing ribozyme platform to selectively replace cancer-specific RNA, enabling targeted cancer cell killing. The company expects broader applications, as telomerase is expressed in over 80% of cancers. The therapy has received FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations for liver cancer and glioblastoma.

Seongwook Lee, CEO of Rznomics (Photo = Reporter Im Jeong-yo)

HLB Pep signs CDMO deal with Japan’s Reprocell

HLB Pep rose on news of a CDMO agreement with Japan-based Reprocell for customized neoantigen peptide APIs. The stock closed at 7,570 won, up 5.73% (410 won).

Under the deal, HLB Pep will produce patient-specific neoantigen peptides at its GMP facility. Neoantigen-based therapy involves identifying tumor-specific mutations through genomic analysis and designing peptides accordingly.

Since neoantigens are expressed only in cancer cells, they enable highly selective targeting with minimal damage to normal tissue. The key lies in rapidly and accurately synthesizing peptides that match each patient’s unique neoantigen sequence.

HLB Pep plans to expand globally beyond Japan and is investing in capacity expansion to meet growing CDMO demand.