BRIEF—TRIGR Therapeutics and ABL Bio collaborate on next generation therapeutic antibodies

US biotech TRIGR Therapeutics and ABL Bio Corp, a South Korean biotechnology company, have entered into a binding agreement for TRIGR to license the global commercial rights to ABL Bio’s pipeline of novel therapeutic antibodies to treat cancer.

These therapeutic antibodies include ‘blood-brain barrier (BBB)’ penetrating bispecific antibodies (BsAb) (VEGF/undisclosed BBB target BsAb, undisclosed target/undisclosed BBB target BsAb); immune cell engaging bispecific antibodies (4-1BB/undisclosed target BsAb, 4-1BB/ undisclosed target BsAb); and a monoclonal antibody against undisclosed target.

Under the terms of the agreement, TRIGR will pay a total upfront fee of $4.3 million to license global rights (except for South Korea) to five antibodies currently under development by ABL Bio.

ABL Bio will also receive research, regulatory and sales-based milestones of more than $550 million in total plus royalties.

In addition, TRIGR will share the licensing revenue with ABL Bio in the event of out-licenses to a third party.

The deal is expected to close before the end of July.