Traverse Biotech, Inc. has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, to support the development of a bispecific antibody for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other solid tumors. The approach leverages T cell-engager bispecific antibodies targeting a novel tumor antigen.
The grant will enable Traverse Biotech to validate its tumor antigen as a unique therapeutic target. According to Brandy Houser, Co-founder and CEO of Traverse Biotech, T cell-engager bispecific antibodies could be a valuable treatment option for NSCLC and other solid tumors expressing the target tumor antigen.
Dr. Jean-Loup Romet-Lemonne, Traverse Biotech’s Co-founder and Principal Investigator for the grant, stated that the NCI funding will help advance their bispecific antibody in the field of cancer immunotherapy. The company's strategy involves licensing promising product candidates from international biopharma companies and accelerating their development through initial clinical proof-of-concept studies. Traverse Biotech's operating structure is designed for faster development and cost reduction.
