The U.S. company Aditum Bio and Chinese company Leads Biolabs today announced that they have founded Oblenio Bio, a new company that will develop a potentially first-in-class tri-specific T cell engager for the treatment of difficult-to-treat autoimmune diseases.
The drug named LBL-051 is a CD19xBCMAxCD3-targeting antibody, designed to activate T cells that can then deplete overreactive B cells. In many autoimmune diseases, B cells are responsible for producing autoantibodies and activating T cells, resulting in the initiation of inflammatory pathways.
Found on the surface of B cells, CD19 and BCMA (B cell maturation antigen) are associated with a number of autoimmune diseases when overexpressed. CD3 is a T cell co-receptor and protein complex associated with the activation of cytotoxic T cells and T helper cells. In the case of LBL-051, CD3 “has been engineered with the intent of enhancing safety while optimizing efficacy by finely tuning the relative potency of each domain,” as the companies explained in a press statement.
Although recent clinical data has already shown the promising efficacy of CD19xBCMA-targeted therapies in immune-mediated diseases, there is still a high unmet need for treatments with greater efficacy and durability.
"By targeting both CD19 and BCMA in autoimmune disorders, LBL-051 has the potential to achieve a complete immune reset and superior efficacy and durability, compared to single targeting of either CD19 or BCMA alone", explained Joe Jimenez, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Aditum Bio in a press release.
Under the terms of the agreement, Aditum Bio will fund Oblenio Bio, while Leads Biolabs will allow the new company to develop, globally manufacture and commercialize LBL-051, which was developed using Leads Biolabs’ LeadsBody Platform. Furthermore, Leads Biolabs will receive $35 million in upfront and near-term payments, as well as $579 million in milestone payments and sales royalties. Lastly, the company can also receive an equity stake in Oblenio Bio.
Speaking about the novel, first-in-class therapy and the new company, Xiaoqiang Kang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Leads Biolabs said in a press statement: "LBL-051 offers a differentiated approach to treating certain autoimmune conditions and has the potential to be a Pipeline in a Product. We are pleased to establish this partnership with the high-caliber team at Aditum to bring this innovative therapy to patients around the world.”
