Juri Biosciences has secured exclusive global rights to a development-ready T-cell engager targeting kallikrein-related peptidase 2 (KLK2) and CD3 for metastatic prostate cancer treatment through a worldwide licensing agreement with EpimAb Biotherapeutics. The deal, announced May 27, 2025, positions the TCG Labs Soleil portfolio company to advance a novel immunotherapy approach for a cancer that remains a leading cause of death in men.
Financial Terms and Strategic Partnership
Under the licensing agreement, EpimAb is eligible to receive up to $210 million, including an upfront payment and milestone payments tied to development, regulatory, and commercial events, plus tiered royalties. The companies did not disclose additional financial details of the transaction.
The partnership brings together EpimAb's multi-specific antibody expertise with TCG Labs Soleil's venture-biotech model, which integrates dedicated capital with an in-house R&D hub. Jin-Long Chen, Ph.D., Managing Partner of TCG Labs and Chief Executive Officer of TCG Labs Soleil, emphasized the strategic value of the acquisition.
"This agreement with EpimAb is a clear demonstration of our venture-biotech model at work. We've acquired an exciting external innovation and are deploying our dedicated capital, scientific leadership and operational infrastructure to move it rapidly into the clinic," Chen said.
Scientific Leadership and Target Validation
Dr. Charles Sawyers, the inaugural Director of the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, will serve as a strategic scientific advisor for the program. Sawyers, a leading expert in metastatic prostate cancer and translational oncology, co-discovered enzalutamide, one of the most widely used therapies for advanced prostate cancer today.
The therapeutic approach targets KLK2, a highly prostate-specific antigen that Chen noted "has the potential to enable more precise, targeted therapy." This specificity could address the need for more targeted approaches in prostate cancer treatment, where the disease continues to represent a significant clinical challenge.
Platform Technology and Development Strategy
EpimAb's contribution to the partnership stems from its clinical-stage biopharmaceutical platform specializing in multi-specific antibodies for diseases with high unmet need. The company utilizes proprietary technologies including FIT-Ig® (Fabs-In-Tandem Immunoglobulin) and MAT-Fab (Monovalent Asymmetric Tandem Fab) bispecific platforms.
Chengbin Wu, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of EpimAb Biotherapeutics, highlighted the strategic significance of the partnership beyond the immediate transaction. "We are pleased to have identified a partner for our KLK2 program in Juri Biosciences, backed by the experienced team of TCG Labs Soleil. By partnering in the solid tumor space, EpimAb further validated the broad potential of our TCE platform beyond immunology and hematology," Wu commented.
Venture-Biotech Model Implementation
The agreement exemplifies TCG Labs Soleil's approach to drug development, which creates independent portfolio companies dedicated to single-asset programs. This model guides therapeutic candidates from ideation to clinical proof of concept while positioning them for strategic partnerships and potential transformative medical advancements.
Juri Biosciences represents one of several portfolio companies formed under this structure, each focused on translating scientific insights into therapeutic solutions for patients facing serious diseases. The company's mission aligns with addressing the continued clinical challenge posed by prostate cancer, particularly in its metastatic form where treatment options remain limited.
