Climb Bio Secures License for Antibody Targeting APRIL Pathway in IgA Nephropathy

Climb Bio, Inc. has announced a significant development in its quest to become a leader in therapies for immune-mediated diseases. The company has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Beijing Mabworks Biotech Co., Ltd. for the rights to develop and market MIL116, now renamed CLYM116, a monoclonal antibody targeting APRIL. This agreement covers all territories outside Greater China, with CLYM116 poised to address the significant unmet needs of patients suffering from IgA nephropathy and other diseases influenced by B cells.

Aoife Brennan, the President and CEO of Climb Bio, expressed enthusiasm about this addition to their pipeline, highlighting its potential impact on the company's growth. She emphasized that IgA nephropathy is a leading cause of glomerulonephritis globally and that inhibiting APRIL could offer a disease-modifying approach that is clinically validated. Brennan looks forward to accelerating CLYM116's development and sharing preclinical insights by 2025.

The anti-APRIL antibody, CLYM116, is engineered to overcome challenges associated with current APRIL-targeted therapies. Its innovative mechanism of action not only prevents APRIL signaling by blocking receptor binding but also enhances lysosomal degradation of APRIL through a pH-dependent mechanism. This unique binding approach could result in more profound and sustained inhibition of APRIL, alongside better IgA reduction. CLYM116 is designed to prolong serum half-life, promising an improved exposure profile and potentially less frequent patient dosing. Currently, CLYM116 is undergoing IND-enabling studies, with Climb Bio planning to disclose preclinical findings later in 2025.

Dr. Feng Li, Chairman and General Manager of Mabworks, highlighted the promising results CLYM116 has shown in preclinical models for IgA nephropathy. He expressed excitement about the partnership with Climb Bio, which is focused on immune-mediated diseases, and emphasized the combined expertise of both companies in hastening the clinical trial phase of this program.

The agreement stipulates that Climb Bio will make an initial payment of $9 million to Mabworks, with additional payments contingent upon meeting specific development, regulatory, and commercial milestones. Climb Bio will also pay tiered royalties on net sales outside Greater China. 

Financially, as of the end of December 2024, Climb Bio held approximately $212.9 million in cash, equivalents, and short-term marketable securities. The company expects these resources to support operations, including the development of budoprutug and CLYM116, until 2027.

Climb Bio, Inc. is a biotechnology firm in the clinical stage focused on creating treatments for immune-mediated diseases. Their pipeline includes budoprutug, an anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody with potential applications in various B-cell-mediated diseases, and CLYM116, currently in studies targeting IgA nephropathy.

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