āshibio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on bone and connective tissue disorders, has announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Mereo BioPharma for vantictumab, targeting autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type 2 (ADO2), a rare genetic bone disorder with no approved treatments. The deal represents a strategic expansion of āshibio's clinical pipeline, adding a second clinical-stage asset with significant therapeutic potential.
Addressing a Critical Unmet Medical Need
ADO2, also known as Albers-Schönberg disease, affects approximately 1 in 20,000 births and represents the most common form of osteopetrosis. The genetic disorder results from mutations in the chloride channel 7 (CLCN7) gene, leading to reduced osteoclast function. This impairment causes dense, brittle bones that result in multiple fractures, poor bone healing, low blood counts due to bone marrow sequestration, and painful nerve compression.
"People living with autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type 2 face a lifetime of bone-related complications resulting in significant morbidity, multiple surgical procedures, chronic pain, and impaired quality of life – yet patients have no approved therapy to address the disease," said āshibio Chief Executive Officer Pankaj Bhargava, MD. "Bringing vantictumab into our pipeline reflects our commitment to advancing therapies for rare skeletal conditions and improving the lives of those affected by serious bone disorders."
Mechanism and Clinical Foundation
Vantictumab is a monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to certain frizzled (Fzd) receptors and inhibits Wnt signaling pathways. Originally developed for cancer treatment, the antibody has been evaluated in oncology clinical trials, demonstrating a favorable safety and pharmacokinetic profile. Importantly, previous clinical trials have generated biomarker data that directly support vantictumab's activity on osteoclast function, significantly derisking the clinical development program for ADO2.
The existing clinical data allows āshibio to rapidly advance vantictumab into clinical development for this rare bone disorder. Preclinical data supporting the development of vantictumab in ADO2 will be presented at the upcoming American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) annual meeting, scheduled for September 5-8, 2025, in Seattle, Washington.
Strategic Partnership Terms
Under the licensing agreement, āshibio will lead global clinical development for vantictumab in both adult and pediatric patients with ADO2. Mereo BioPharma has granted āshibio exclusive rights to develop and commercialize vantictumab in the United States and globally, with the exception of Europe, where Mereo retains commercial rights.
This licensing deal builds upon āshibio's existing portfolio, which includes andecaliximab, currently in a Phase 2/3 trial for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) and a Phase 1b trial for non-hereditary heterotopic ossification (NHHO) in patients with spinal cord injury. The company, founded in 2022 and emerging from stealth mode in June 2024 with $40 million in seed and Series A financing, has positioned itself as a leader in developing therapeutics for rare bone disorders.
