Adagene Inc. (Nasdaq: ADAG) announced a strategic partnership with ConjugateBio Inc. to provide a proprietary antibody for development as novel bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The collaboration combines Adagene's antibody discovery capabilities with ConjugateBio's specialized ADC development platform to advance therapeutic options for cancer patients.
Partnership Details and Market Opportunity
Under the agreement, Adagene will receive an undisclosed upfront payment along with milestone and royalty payments. The company retains all non-ADC rights to the partnered antibody, allowing for potential future development in other therapeutic modalities.
"We have been very impressed with ConjugateBio's ability to streamline ADC development, and we are pleased to provide an internally developed antibody for this purpose. By combining this antibody with various payloads, ConjugateBio is advancing the ADC landscape, which is expected to reach over $30 billion in market size by 2030," said Peter Luo, Ph.D., CEO and President of R&D at Adagene.
Technology Platform Integration
The partnership leverages Adagene's proprietary Dynamic Precision Library (DPL) platform, which comprises NEObody™, SAFEbody, and POWERbody™ technologies. Adagene's SAFEbody technology addresses safety and tolerability challenges by using precision masking technology to shield the binding domain of biologic therapies. This approach enables tumor-specific targeting while minimizing on-target off-tumor toxicity in healthy tissues.
ConjugateBio brings expertise in developing first-in-class bispecific ADCs against solid tumors, utilizing third-generation linker-payloads with potential best-in-class profiles. The company is building a pipeline of innovative therapeutics targeting cancers across multiple indications.
Clinical Validation and Future Applications
Kum Yoo, Co-founder and CEO of ConjugateBio, highlighted Adagene's proven track record: "Adagene's exemplary and differentiated antibody discovery capabilities give us confidence that in our hands, we can develop novel, potent and safe antibody drug conjugates. Based on what we've seen with ADG126, Adagene excels in pushing the boundaries of what is possible when it comes to creating safe, well tolerated and efficacious molecules."
ADG126 (muzastotug), Adagene's lead clinical program, is a masked anti-CTLA-4 SAFEbody that targets a unique epitope of CTLA-4 in regulatory T cells (Tregs) within the tumor microenvironment. The drug is currently in phase 1b/2 clinical studies in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy, with particular focus on metastatic microsatellite-stable (MSS) colorectal cancer.
Platform Versatility
The SAFEbody platform's versatility extends beyond traditional antibody therapeutics. Validated through ongoing clinical research, the technology can be applied to various antibody-based therapeutic modalities, including Fc empowered antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and bi/multispecific T-cell engagers.
Adagene combines computational biology and artificial intelligence to design novel antibodies addressing globally unmet patient needs. The platform-driven, clinical-stage biotechnology company has established strategic collaborations with global partners leveraging its precision masking technology across multiple scientific approaches.
