GlycoNex, a biotechnology company focused on glycan-directed cancer immunotherapies, has announced a manufacturing agreement with Sterling Pharma Solutions for the clinical trial production of GNX102-ADC. This collaboration supports a planned Phase 1 clinical program to investigate the drug technology.
GNX102-ADC combines GlycoNex's proprietary monoclonal antibody (mAb), GNX102, and cytotoxic drug therapies. The ADC is designed to elicit cellular cytotoxicity, targeting cancer cells with high specificity. GNX102, the humanized mAb, targets novel tumor-associated glycans to inhibit tumor growth. Previous Phase 1 clinical trials of GNX102 demonstrated strong safety and tolerability.
Rationale for ADC Development
"Our GNX102 monoclonal antibody demonstrated superior safety in Phase 1 clinical trials making it an ideal candidate to develop as an ADC," said Dr. Mei-Chun Yang, CEO of GlycoNex. "We are excited to benefit from Sterling's ADC manufacturing expertise in the production of GNX102-ADC as we seek to investigate the technology's ability to bind antibodies to cancer cell antigens, initiating apoptotic cell death while directly delivering cytotoxic drugs to the tumor."
Sterling's Role and Expertise
Chad Telgenhof, Chief Commercial Officer at Sterling Pharma Solutions, commented on the partnership, stating, "As a company, Sterling continues to invest in capabilities to support ADC innovator companies, in what is a strong and growing area of research. This agreement will leverage the expertise we have in clinical-scale GMP manufacturing at our site in Deeside, UK, and we look forward to building a partnership with GlycoNex to support its ongoing drug development."
Preclinical Data and Market Opportunity
Preclinical trials of GNX102-ADC have demonstrated safety comparable to approved ADCs, with potential application in treating a range of solid tumors, including gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and lung cancers. The ADC has also shown strong tumor-suppressing potential in preclinical animal studies. GlycoNex retains full development rights for GNX102-ADC, with patents secured in key global markets.
The global ADC market was valued at USD 11.65 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 28.61 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.4% from 2024 to 2033. GlycoNex aims to capitalize on this growth with its comprehensive capabilities for end-to-end antibody drug development, from monoclonal antibody discovery to clinical trials.
