MedPacto, a subsidiary of Theragen Etex, is pushing be listed on the KOSDAQ market, making the most of the government’s technology exception policy, after passing the technology assessment.

The company said Thursday that it would begin preparations for the preliminary examination as soon as possible and hopes to be listed on the secondary, tech-studded stock market by the end of the year.

MedPacto received “A” rating in the recent technology assessments from the two assessment institutions designated by the Korea Exchange (KRX) -- Korea Enterprise Data and Ecredible.

The company is an immuno-oncology drug developer established in 2013. One of its key materials to be used as new drugs is vactosertib (TEW-7197). The substance is a small molecule oral inhibitor that works explicitly on TGF-β type 1 receptor, which is one of the mechanisms that obstruct the therapeutic effect of immunotherapeutic agents.

MedPacto is conducting phase 1b/2a clinical trials to evaluate the combination of vactosertib with MSD’s Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) and AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (Durvalumab) on lung cancer and gastric cancer patients. Put together, the company is running nine trial tests in Korea and the U.S.

MedPacto is also developing two new drug materials that target new indications, including tumors. The company has reportedly obtained significant data at the pre-clinical stage.

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