Fusion Antibodies Advances DR5 Humanised Antibody for Treatment-Resistant Cancers with Extended Grant Support
Key Insights
Fusion Antibodies has successfully humanised a DR5 (search)-targeting therapeutic antibody using its proprietary CDRx® platform, with all variants showing positive results in tumour cell death assays.
UK Research & Innovation (search) has extended the grant-funded project timeline to 31 December 2026, allowing further pre-clinical evaluation in relevant cancer models.
The company leveraged new microfluidic technology at the Future Medicines Institute to accelerate stable cell line development by approximately 50%, reducing the process to around four months.
Fusion Antibodies plc (search) (AIM: FAB) has reported significant progress in its InnovateUK Launchpad grant-funded project to develop a humanised therapeutic antibody targeting the DR5 (search) protein for treatment-resistant cancers (search). The Belfast-based contract research organisation, working in collaboration with Queen's University Belfast (QUB), has successfully humanised the DR5 antibody from an initial rabbit antibody using its proprietary CDRx® humanisation platform, with all structural variants demonstrating positive results in tumour cell death assays.
The grant, funded by UK Research & Innovation (search) (UKRI) and InvestNI, totals over £808,000, of which up to £545,000 in direct non-dilutive funding is available to Fusion. Eligible costs under the grant include labour, overheads, and materials.
Accelerated Cell Line Development Through Microfluidic Technology
A key technical achievement in the project has been the successful insertion of the gene encoding the lead humanised antibody into a stable cell line suitable for large-scale manufacture. This cell line development process utilised new state-of-the-art microfluidic technology housed at the Future Medicines Institute, reducing the process timeline by approximately 50% to around four months.
Fusion Antibodies noted that this technology is now available for use in client projects, and the data generated will serve as a case study in the Company's marketing activities.
Project Extension and Next Steps
Given the progress achieved to date, UKRI has agreed to extend the project from its originally targeted completion date of 31 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Over the remaining months, the DR5 (search) humanised antibody and selected variants will undergo further pre-clinical evaluation in relevant cancer models.
Positive results from these studies are expected to support a patent application covering the antibody family and could lead to the creation of a licensable therapeutic asset for further development and commercialisation by an industry partner.
Richard Buick, CSO of Fusion, commented: "The DR5 (search) project continues to make excellent progress. The latest variants have shown robust activity in induced cancer cell death assays, supporting their advancement into further studies. With the accelerated process to produce stable cell lines now in place, we are well positioned to deliver a comprehensive data package for the DR5 antibody asset as planned."
Adrian Kinkaid, CEO of Fusion, added: "I am delighted with the Grant support from InnovateUK enabling us to smoothly and successfully progress this project. It shows off several of our comprehensive capabilities in antibody development in a way which can benefit our clients and be used to support our marketing activities. It also demonstrates the value and utility of the Future Medicines Institute in supporting the further development of the capabilities to be found at Fusion in Belfast."
Strategic Value and Capability Demonstration
The project has provided valuable case study data for several of Fusion's key technologies, including its CDRx® humanisation platform, complex protein engineering capability, and more rapid cell line development processes. A formal Collaboration Agreement has been signed by Fusion and QUB to govern the partnership.
Dr. Adrian Kinkaid is scheduled to present on the DR5 (search) project at the ELRIG Drug Discovery conference in Boston, USA, later this month.
Fusion Antibodies, established in 2001 as a spin-out from Queen's University Belfast, has successfully sequenced and/or expressed over 750 antibodies and completed over 250 humanisation projects since 2012. The Company's international client base has included eight of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies by revenue.