Aditum Bio and Leads Biolabs join forces in new company to fight autoimmune diseases
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.”
