The inhibition of PD-L1 and VEGF individually or in combination has shown efficacy across several solid tumor types, but not all patients respond to therapy or respond for short duration. IMM-2510 is a novel bispecific antibody developed by Immuneonco Biopharmaceuticals Inc. that targets both PD-L1 and VEGF, thus achieving both angiogenesis inhibition and immune checkpoint blockade.

Akeso Inc. has received clearance from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to initiate clinical trials with AK-152 for Alzheimer’s disease.

Neok Bio Inc. was formed earlier this year and is already on schedule to file an IND in a few months for its two bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to treat various types of tumors. The biotech got a leg up on development from its principal investor, Korean biotech ABL Bio Inc., where the discovery work was accomplished.

Researchers at Alligator Bioscience AB and Lund University have developed a bispecific therapeutic antibody, ATOR-4066, that simultaneously targets the immune cell receptor CD40 and the tumor antigen CEACAM5.

Dualitas Therapeutics Inc. exited stealth mode with a $65 million series A investment that was co-led by Versant Ventures and Qiming Venture Partners USA.

T-cell engagers (TCEs) are a new class of immuno-oncology therapies that have proven effective for the treatment of both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Among validated targets in this field, claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) is one of the most clinically established. Researchers from Astrazeneca plc and collaborators reported the preclinical evaluation of AZD-5863, a bispecific fully human monoclonal antibody targeting claudin CLDN18.2 and CD3.

Crossbow Therapeutics Inc. has nominated its second development candidate, CBX-663, a T-cell engager for the treatment of a broad range of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, primarily due to its dense, desmoplastic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) that hinders the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1).

Harbour Biomed Ltd. has established a global strategic collaboration with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to advance BCMAxCD3 bispecific T-cell engagers for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.