In a significant move to advance cancer immunotherapy, UK biotech company Kymab has announced a strategic collaboration with Shanghai-based EpimAb Biotherapeutics to develop novel bispecific antibodies for immuno-oncology applications.
The partnership combines Kymab's next-generation Kymouse antibody discovery platform, known for producing highly potent and selective antibodies, with EpimAb's innovative FIT-Ig (Fabs-In-Tandem Immunoglobulin) bispecific antibody technology. This technological synergy aims to create dual-targeting therapeutic antibodies while maintaining the biological properties of their parent molecules.
Strategic Partnership Structure
Under the terms of the cross-license agreement, Kymab will retain development and commercialization rights for all territories excluding China, while EpimAb will maintain rights within the Chinese market. Both companies stand to benefit from milestone payments and royalties on successful development programs pursued by either party.
"Bispecific antibodies have enormous potential to exploit our growing molecular and cellular understanding of the tumour microenvironment as it relates to immuno-oncology," stated Dr. David Chiswell, CEO of Kymab. The collaboration represents EpimAb's first licensing agreement outside of China.
Technical Innovation and Development Focus
The FIT-Ig platform's distinctive feature lies in its ability to generate bispecific antibodies that preserve their parental monoclonal antibody properties without requiring significant structural modifications. This technological advantage, combined with Kymab's Kymouse platform, positions the partnership to potentially deliver best-in-class bispecific antibodies with superior drug properties.
Dr. Chengbin Wu, CEO and Founder of EpimAb, emphasized the strategic fit: "Kymab's expertise in generating world class antibodies specifically in the immuno-oncology area is a perfect strategic fit for EpimAb. The candidates from this collaboration will significantly strengthen EpimAb's proprietary pipeline with highly innovative molecules."
Comprehensive Immuno-Oncology Approach
Kymab brings to the partnership an extensive immuno-oncology portfolio comprising nine projects across four key therapeutic modalities:
- Activation of anti-tumor NK- and T-cell activity
- Enhancement of macrophage-mediated cancer cell destruction
- Depletion of immune-suppressor cells
- Improvement of T-cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment
The company's most advanced development candidate, KY1006, targeting OX40L for T-cell driven inflammatory diseases, is scheduled to enter clinical trials in 2017, demonstrating the platform's progression toward clinical validation.
This collaboration represents a strategic step forward in the increasingly competitive immuno-oncology field, with both companies leveraging their complementary technologies to develop innovative cancer treatments. The partnership exemplifies the growing trend of international cooperation in biotechnology, particularly between Western and Chinese companies, to accelerate therapeutic development.
