Danish biotech Commit Biologics has formed a Scientific Advisory Board comprising five leading industry experts to guide the development of its Bispecific Complement Engager (BiCE™) technology platform for treating autoimmune diseases and cancer. The newly established board will be co-chaired by renowned antibody expert Janine Schuurman, PhD, alongside Commit's CEO Mikkel Wandahl Pedersen.
The advisory board brings together decades of combined experience in molecular biology, immunology, and therapeutic antibody development. Joining the co-chairs are Paul Parren, PhD, Professor of Molecular Immunology and former Genmab SVP; Gavin Thurston, PhD, former Regeneron SVP of Oncology Research; Susan Kalled, PhD, an immunologist who previously served as CSO at Dianthus Therapeutics and Compass Therapeutics; and Esper Boel, PhD, former Corporate Vice President and Head of Biotechnology at Novo Nordisk.
Leveraging Proven Track Records in Antibody Development
The advisory members collectively contributed to the development of 15 FDA- and EMA-approved therapeutic antibodies. Schuurman has been instrumental in six approved therapeutics, including four from Genmab's DuoBody bispecific antibody platform during her 22-year tenure at the company. Similarly, Parren contributed to nine approved therapeutic antibodies and headed preclinical R&D at Genmab for 15 years before leading R&D at LAVA Therapeutics through its NASDAQ listing.
Thurston brings over 20 years of oncology research experience, having played a pivotal role in the clinical development of LIBTAYO® at Regeneron and the ongoing late-stage testing of seven other antibodies and bispecific antibodies. Kalled contributes 25 years of experience spanning early discovery research and clinical drug development in autoimmunity, inflammation, and immuno-oncology, while Boel offers 40 years of international biopharmaceutical R&D experience, including building a 240+ employee biotechnology organization at Novo Nordisk.
Advancing Complement System Therapeutics
Commit's BiCE™ platform represents a novel approach to harnessing the complement system, a largely untapped component of the body's immune system. The technology combines single domain antibodies that engage C1q, the starting point for complement activation, with antibodies targeting specific cellular antigens. This design aims to overcome structural limitations of conventional monoclonal antibodies that hinder effective C1q engagement.
"Forming Commit's Scientific Advisory Board is a pivotal step in our mission to bring first-in-class complement engager therapeutics to patients," said CEO Mikkel Wandahl Pedersen. "I am very pleased that we have been able to gather such an accomplished group of people with deep immunology and drug-development experience. I am confident that their collective insight will sharpen our strategy and accelerate advancement of our pipeline."
Addressing Therapeutic Limitations
The complement system's classical pathway begins with C1q engagement to antibodies coating cell surfaces, initiating multiple effector functions leading to cell killing. However, current therapeutic monoclonal antibodies face structural constraints that limit complement-mediated cytotoxicity. Additional challenges include natural cell-bound complement inhibitors often upregulated in disease settings and low target densities that make conventional antibodies poor complement activators.
Commit's BiCE™ technology was specifically developed to overcome these barriers by supercharging conventional monoclonal antibodies to activate the complement system more effectively. The modular approach enables therapeutic development across multiple tumor-associated antigens and immune cell targets, potentially allowing for broad therapeutic applications in both cancer and autoimmune diseases.
The company, spun out of Aarhus University and building on over three decades of research, is backed by major investors including Novo Holdings, Bioqube Ventures, and Korys. The formation of this high-caliber Scientific Advisory Board marks a significant milestone in Commit's strategy to translate complement system activation into targeted therapeutic applications.
