OBI Pharma and TegMine Therapeutics Form Global License Partnership for Novel Glycan-Targeting ADC
核心洞察
OBI Pharma (搜索) has entered into an exclusive global license agreement with TegMine Therapeutics (搜索) for a glycan-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) developed using OBI's proprietary Obrion™ ADC technology platform.
The licensed ADC candidate combines TegMine's high-affinity anti-glycan antibody with OBI's GlycOBI® glycan-conjugation technology, creating a homogeneous and scalable ADC with exceptional tumor specificity.
Under the agreement terms, OBI will receive upfront payments, development and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties on net sales, while TegMine obtains exclusive global development and commercialization rights.
OBI Pharma (搜索) announced on January 12, 2026, that it has entered into a commercial license agreement with TegMine Therapeutics (搜索), Inc., a San Francisco-based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing antibodies targeting cancer-associated glycans and glycoproteins. The partnership centers on a novel glycan-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that leverages both companies' proprietary technologies.
Strategic Collaboration Framework
Under the terms of the agreement, OBI is eligible to receive an upfront payment as well as development and commercial milestones. Following product launch, OBI will also receive royalties based on a tiered percentage of annual net sales. While detailed financial terms remain confidential, the overall deal economics are broadly comparable to those of recent similar licensing transactions in the market.
TegMine will obtain exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize the ADC under the license agreement. This international licensing collaboration reflects the potential value of products generated using OBI's Obrion™ ADC technologies.
Novel ADC Technology Integration
The licensed ADC candidate is derived from a high-affinity anti-glycan antibody provided by TegMine and was developed into an ADC by OBI using the Obrion™ ADC technology family. The development process incorporates several proprietary technologies, including the GlycOBI® glycan-conjugation technology, the dual-function enzymatic EndoSymeOBI®, and the highly hydrophilic linker HYPrOBI®. The resulting ADC candidate generated with this proprietary site-specific glycan conjugation is homogeneous and scalable for manufacturing.
"This strategic collaboration leverages the complementary strengths of both organizations," said Heidi Wang, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of OBI Pharma (搜索). "It not only supports the advancement of OBI's ADC product development but also expands opportunities for strategic partnerships using our innovative ADC technologies such as GlycOBI®. We look forward to working closely with TegMine to further develop this novel ADC that may benefit patients with urgent medical needs."
Targeting Cancer-Specific Glycan Signatures
Jeff Bernstein, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of TegMine Therapeutics (搜索), emphasized the significance of the collaboration's progression. "The transition from our successful Master Services Agreement to this global license agreement is a major milestone for TegMine," he stated. "By combining OBI's site-specific GlycOBI® conjugation with our proprietary antibodies discovered via the TegMiner™ platform, we have generated an ADC with exceptional tumor specificity. This TegMine program demonstrates the power of targeting cancer-specific glycan signatures to deliver potent payloads while sparing healthy tissue. We are excited to advance this program rapidly into the clinic."
Advanced ADC Technology Platform
OBI has developed GlycOBI®, a unique glycan-based ADC technology designed in a Plug and Play format that is compatible with any antibodies, linkers, and payloads, and supports various drug-antibody ratios (DAR). Powered by OBI's proprietary dual-function enzymatic technology EndoSymeOBI® and its hydrophilic linker technology HYPrOBI®, GlycOBI® serves as a core component of OBI's Obrion™ ADC technology family, enabling the generation of site-specific and homogeneous ADCs with an efficient and scalable process under GMP conditions.
During the conjugation process, GlycOBI® avoids disrupting the antibody structure and ensures that the resulting ADC retains biophysical characteristics comparable to the native antibody. Additionally, OBI's linker technology improves payload conjugation efficiency and reduces the propensity for aggregation or degradation, further supporting a stable and well-controlled ADC manufacturing process. GlycOBI® has overcome limitations commonly associated with traditional ADC approaches and has demonstrated improved antitumor activity and stability in various in vivo studies.
Company Profiles and Pipeline Assets
OBI Pharma (搜索) is a clinical-stage global oncology company established in 2002 and headquartered in Taiwan. Together with its subsidiary OBI Pharma USA, Inc., the company is dedicated to developing innovative cancer therapeutics to provide new treatment options for patients with urgent medical needs. OBI's research efforts center on novel antibody-drug conjugates through its patented next-generation conjugation technology platform, Obrion™.
The platform integrates proprietary conjugation and linker technologies, including GlycOBI®, GlycOBI DUO®, EndoSymeOBI®, HYPrOBI®, and the novel cysteine-conjugation technology ThiOBI®. OBI has developed a comprehensive suite of ADC programs, including monospecific ADCs such as OBI-902 (TROP2 (搜索)) and OBI-904 (Nectin-4 (搜索)); a bispecific single-payload ADC, OBI-201 (搜索) (HER2 (搜索) x TROP2); and a bispecific dual-payload ADC, OBI-221 (搜索) (cMET (搜索) x HER3 (搜索)). The company's assets also include OBI-3424, a first-in-class AKR1C3 (搜索)-targeted small-molecule prodrug that selectively releases a potent DNA-alkylating agent in the presence of the aldo-keto reductase 1C3 enzyme, which is highly expressed in certain tumors.
TegMine Therapeutics (搜索) is redefining precision oncology by targeting highly expressed glycans and glycoproteins that drive cancer aggressiveness and immune evasion. The company's mission focuses on eradicating cancer by identifying unique tumor antigens that are consistently prevalent across tumors while being largely absent from healthy tissues. TegMine's proprietary TegMiner™ platform utilizes glyco-engineered cell lines and advanced mass spectrometry to identify previously inaccessible, cancer-specific glycan epitopes. This discovery engine is designed to generate high-specificity antibodies that deliver maximum therapeutic impact across numerous treatment modalities, including antibody-drug conjugates and other next-generation antibody formats.