SOTIO Progresses SOT109 ADC Program for Colorectal Cancer and Licenses Antibodies from Biocytogen

On January 9, 2025, SOTIO Biotech, based in Prague and owned by PPF Group, made an important announcement regarding the advancement of cancer treatment therapies. SOTIO has licensed a set of fully human antibodies from Biocytogen, a global biotech firm headquartered in Beijing. This collaboration aims to develop a pioneering antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting a novel tumor type, primarily for colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers.

The focus of this initiative, SOT109, is a new ADC candidate from SOTIO’s portfolio, currently in the clinical candidate selection phase. This candidate targets a specific tumor antigen that is consistently present in over 90% of colorectal cancer cases. It has shown significant preclinical success in various models of colorectal cancer. The technology behind SOT109 involves an ADC platform from Synaffix, which is part of Lonza Group, known for its specific site-conjugation technology that enhances treatment precision and addresses the challenges of tumor heterogeneity.

Dr. Martin Steegmaier, the Chief Scientific Officer at SOTIO, expressed optimism about SOT109's potential as a transformative treatment for gastrointestinal cancers. He emphasized the importance of the collaboration with Biocytogen, which has led to the discovery of a highly selective monoclonal antibody candidate with outstanding cross-species targeting capabilities. SOTIO plans to initiate Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies shortly.

Yuelei Shen, Ph.D., President and CEO of Biocytogen, noted the significant progress achieved through this partnership. The antibodies from Biocytogen’s RenMabTM platform are characterized by their remarkable binding and internalization features, making them highly promising for drug development. By utilizing Synaffix’s conjugation technology and SOTIO’s expertise in ADC development, SOT109 has emerged as a hopeful candidate for cancer therapy, offering new possibilities for patients with colorectal and other GI cancers.

SOTIO Biotech is committed to advancing targeted cancer therapies through a robust pipeline of ADC programs. These programs are in various stages of preclinical development, and include innovative therapies like BOXR1030, a special CAR-T cell therapy aimed at GPC3-expressing tumors, and SOT201, an advanced PD-1-targeting immunocytokine. SOTIO is a registered trademark of SOTIO Biotech and is part of the PPF Group.

Biocytogen, listed as HKEX: 02315, is a global leader in developing novel antibody-based drugs using cutting-edge technologies. Founded on advanced gene editing, Biocytogen's platforms, such as RenMab™ and its derivatives, are integral for discovering fully human monoclonal and bispecific antibodies. The company has established a comprehensive library of over 400,000 human antibody sequences against numerous targets, fostering global collaboration. By mid-2024, Biocytogen had established numerous agreements for therapeutic antibody development and model licensing with various international pharmaceutical companies.

Headquartered in Beijing, Biocytogen maintains a global presence with branches across China, the United States, and Germany. The company is at the forefront of providing innovative preclinical research models and services, supporting worldwide advancements in antibody therapeutics.