Adcendo ApS (“Adcendo”), a biotech company focused on the development of breakthrough antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of underserved cancers, today announced a license agreement with Duality Biologics (“Duality”), a clinical-stage biotech company focused on discovering and developing a pipeline of ADCs targeting cancers and autoimmune diseases.
Under the terms of the agreement, Adcendo will license Duality’s proprietary DITAC (Duality Immune Toxin Antibody Conjugates) linker/payload platform for its lead uPARAP-ADC program in mesenchymal cancers. The DITAC platform is designed to generate ADCs with superior safety profiles, sustainable payload delivery and release in tumors, and efficient bystander killing of antigen low and negative cells. Both parties are in discussions to expand the license to cover additional targets selected by Adcendo.
uPARAP is a novel cancer target overexpressed on the cell surface of mesenchymal cancers. The expression profile and unique internalization properties of uPARAP make it a highly attractive ADC target.
Michael Pehl, Chief Executive Officer of Adcendo, said: “We are very pleased to announce this agreement to leverage Duality’s DITAC platform for our first-in-class uPARAP ADC program..We believe that Duality, through its DITAC platform, has clearly brought linker-payload technologies to the next level and we are very much looking forward to collaborating closely and developing ADCs with a superior safety and efficacy profile for cancer patients in need.””
John Zhu, Chief Executive Officer of Duality, said: “Duality is dedicated to becoming a leading next-generation ADC company. The clinical assets built upon our DITAC platform have started to show encouraging efficacy and safety results in patients. We are very glad to work with Adcendo on breakthrough ADC medicines and apply our platform to its novel and unique uPARAP program. We believe the collaboration reflects the mutual recognition of each party’s unique strengths in ADC discovery and development and look forward to supporting the development of innovative ADC drugs.”
About Adcendo ApS
Adcendo ApS, is developing breakthrough antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of underserved cancers. In 2021, the company raised its Series A round of EUR 51 million, investors include Novo Holdings, Ysios Capital, RA Capital Management, HealthCap and Gilde Healthcare.
About Duality Biologics
Duality Biologics is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on discovering and developing a pipeline of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting cancers and autoimmune diseases. Leveraging its DITAC (Duality Immune Toxin Antibody Conjugates) and DIMAC (Duality Immune Modulating Antibody Conjugates), Duality is developing more than 10 ADCs at clinical and preclinical stage.
About the uPARAP receptor
uPARAP is a recycling endocytic receptor involved in collagen homeostasis and turnover. uPARAP exhibits a restricted expression profile in healthy tissues but is highly upregulated in mesenchymal cancers, including soft-tissue sarcoma & osteosarcoma, making it a highly attractive target for ADC development.
About Gilde Healthcare
Gilde Healthcare is a specialized healthcare investor managing €2 billion across two fund strategies: Venture&Growth and Private Equity. The firm operates out of offices in Utrecht (The Netherlands), Frankfurt (Germany) and Cambridge (United States). Gilde Healthcare Venture&Growth invests in fast growing, innovative companies active in (bio)pharmaceuticals, healthtech and medtech that are based in Europe and North America. For more information, please visit www.gildehealthcare.com.