Aditum Bio partners with Chinese biotech for tri-specific autoimmune treatment

Biotech investment firm Aditum Bio and China-based Leads Biolabs have announced the creation of a new company, Oblenio Bio, aimed at advancing a pioneering tri-specific T-cell engager antibody for treating autoimmune disorders. Oblenio Bio has secured exclusive rights to LBL-051, an innovative CD19xBCMAxCD3 engager designed by Leads Biolabs. This antibody targets a wider range of pathological B-cell populations, addressing a broad spectrum of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.

Joe Jimenez, the former CEO of Novartis and co-founder of Aditum Bio, highlighted the potential of LBL-051 in achieving a complete immune reset by targeting both CD19 and BCMA in autoimmune disorders. Jimenez emphasized that this dual-targeting approach could offer superior efficacy and durability compared to therapies that target only one of these receptors.

In recent years, tri-specific modalities have shown promise, with clinical data on CD19 and BCMA targeted therapies demonstrating significant efficacy in treating challenging autoimmune diseases. However, bispecific T-cell engagers, which target only one receptor on T cells, often fall short in efficiency. Tri-specific and tetraspecific T-cell engagers, which target two or more T-cell receptors, could provide the necessary costimulatory boost for T cells to function more effectively.

Several companies are working on similar tri-specific engagers. Sanofi and Harpoon Therapeutics, recently acquired by Merck & Co. for around $680 million, are notable examples. Harpoon's HPN217 and HPN328 are currently in clinical development for multiple myeloma and small-cell lung cancer, respectively. Sanofi's tri-specific SAR442257 targets CD38/CD3xCD28 and is undergoing clinical trials for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The agreement between Aditum Bio and Leads Biolabs grants Oblenio Bio exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize LBL-051. Leads Biolabs stands to receive up to $35 million in upfront and near-term payments, $579 million in milestone payments, and royalties on future sales.

Xiaoqiang Kang, CEO of Leads Biolabs, expressed optimism about the potential of LBL-051, suggesting that it could become "a pipeline in a product." This sentiment reflects the broad applications of LBL-051 in treating various autoimmune diseases.

Leads Biolabs has also engaged in previous collaborations, including a notable partnership with BeiGene in 2021. Under that agreement, BeiGene secured exclusive commercialization rights outside China for LBL-007, a LAG-3 targeting asset, providing Leads Biolabs with $30 million upfront and up to $742 million in potential milestone payments.

Overall, the formation of Oblenio Bio and the development of LBL-051 mark significant steps forward in the treatment of autoimmune disorders. The innovative tri-specific T-cell engager antibody offers promising prospects for addressing complex autoimmune diseases, potentially transforming patient outcomes in this challenging field.