Aditum Bio and Leads Biolabs Partner to Create New Venture Targeting Autoimmune Disorders
Aditum Bio, based in the U.S., and China’s Leads Biolabs have announced the creation of Oblenio Bio. This new venture aims to innovate a potentially first-in-class tri-specific T cell engager targeted at challenging autoimmune diseases.
The therapeutic candidate, LBL-051, is a tri-specific antibody tailored to target CD19, BCMA, and CD3. It works by activating T cells, which can selectively eliminate overactive B cells. In numerous autoimmune conditions, B cells play a critical role by generating autoantibodies and stimulating T cells, leading to inflammatory responses.
CD19 and BCMA (B cell maturation antigen) are found on B cells and can be excessively expressed in various autoimmune disorders. CD3 functions as a co-receptor on T cells, integral in activating both cytotoxic T cells and T helper cells. The design of LBL-051 incorporates engineered CD3, aiming to enhance safety and optimize effectiveness through precise adjustments of each domain’s potency, as detailed by a joint press release from the companies.
Recent findings have highlighted the effectiveness of targeted therapies that focus on CD19xBCMA in immune-mediated diseases. However, there remains a significant need for treatments that offer improved efficacy and lasting results.
“With LBL-051 targeting both CD19 and BCMA within autoimmune conditions, it holds promise for achieving complete immune resets, thereby providing enhanced efficacy and durability when compared to singular targeting of either CD19 or BCMA,” noted Joe Jimenez, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Aditum Bio.
According to the partnership agreement, Aditum Bio will finance Oblenio Bio’s operations while Leads Biolabs will facilitate the global development, manufacturing, and commercialization of LBL-051. This initiative utilizes the LeadsBody Platform established by Leads Biolabs. Under the terms, Leads Biolabs is set to receive million in upfront and immediate payments, alongside 9 million in milestone payments and royalties from sales. The company may also acquire an equity interest in Oblenio Bio.
Xiaoqiang Kang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Leads Biolabs, remarked on the new endeavor, stating: “LBL-051 presents a unique approach to managing specific autoimmune disorders and has the potential to function as a Pipeline in a Product. We are excited to collaborate with Aditum’s highly skilled team to make this groundbreaking therapy accessible to patients globally.”