Partnerships

In 2021, we entered a research partnership with Nektar Therapeutics to collaborate on the development of an antibody designed to modulate the TNFR2 pathway in order to agonize – or activate – T regulatory cells and other anti-inflammatory cell populations, making this a promising approach to stimulating the immune system in ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, vitiligo, and other autoimmune disease states. In April 2024 NEKTAR, following successful preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies, Nektar decided to exercise the license option and has been advancing the program through IND enabling studies since late December 2023. If the NKTR-0165 candidate proceeds through clinical development, Biolojic Design is entitled to development milestones and sales royalties

We are proud of our research collaboration with Eli Lilly to discover and develop a potential new antibody-based therapy for the treatment of diabetes. This innovative approach to diabetes treatment makes use of our multibody technology — an antibody engineered to bind to two or more targets on each of its two arms.

We collaborated with ATP, a leading life sciences venture capital firm, to launch Aulos Bioscience. This new company Is developing highly differentiated interleukin-2 (IL-2)-binding monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics against solid tumors. Working with Aulos Bioscience, we advanced a new antibody AU-007, into a Phase 1/2 human trial in Australia. In December 2023 Aulos announced that early data indicated clinical activity in several patients, including disease control and objective response results. This is encouraging as the anti-tumor activity has been observed in heavily pre-treated patients whose tumors had progressed through checkpoint inhibitors. Aulos is now initiating the Phase 2 portion of its Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AU-007 in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic solid tumor cancers of the skin and kidney

In December 2023 we entered an exclusive license agreement with Teva to develop BD9 a potential novel antibody-based therapy for the treatment of Atopic Dermatitis and Asthma. BD9 is a dual specific antibody that can block both TSLP (Thymic stromal lymphopoietin) and IL-13, and has the potential to deliver treatment across typically TH2-driven inflammatory diseases. Existing drugs currently approved by health authorities focus on only one of these two drivers of inflammation, and do not respond to pathway dynamics. When TSLP or IL13 is upregulated BD9 can bind to either target with both arms and with high affinity, therefore having the potential to help more patients and improve outcomes. This agreement supports one of Teva’s key pillars in its Pivot to Growth strategy announced in May 2023, to step up innovation, by enhancing the Company’s early-stage pipeline organically and through strategic partnerships.

In June 2024 we announced a multi-target drug discovery collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. The partnership will leverage Biolojic Design’s AI-driven discovery platform to design therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of cancer and immunological disorders. Under the terms of the agreement, Biolojic Design will receive a low double-digit million-euro upfront payment and research funding, and be eligible for drug discovery, development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments that may total up to €346 million. Biolojic Design will also be eligible to receive tiered royalties on net product sales.