#South Korea #Seongnam #GSK #Grabody-B #ABL Bio

ABL Bio and GSK Unite to Tackle Neurodegenerative Diseases

In a significant development in the biotechnology realm, ABL Bio Inc. has announced a worldwide licensing agreement with GSK, granting the pharma giant access to ABL Bio's innovative Grabody-B platform technology. This collaboration aims to enhance the delivery of novel medications for neurodegenerative disorders, thereby addressing a critical area of unmet medical need.

The Grabody-B Technology

The Grabody-B platform is a cutting-edge technology designed to facilitate the passage of therapeutic molecules across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a major hurdle in treating central nervous system diseases. The blood-brain barrier serves as a protective shield that prevents harmful substances from entering the brain while also impeding many beneficial drugs from accessing neural tissues. By targeting the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), Grabody-B enhances drug penetration, thereby promoting effective treatment delivery to the brain.

Financial Aspects of the Partnership

As part of the agreement, ABL Bio stands to receive up to £77.1 million through upfront and milestone payments, with an immediate upfront payment of £38.5 million recognized. This partnership not only offers significant financial backing but also positions ABL Bio for future success, with potential milestone payments accumulating to a total of £2.075 billion for various development, regulatory, and commercialization phases of multiple programs.

Additionally, ABL Bio will earn tiered royalties on net sales upon successful market entry of the developed drugs. Meanwhile, GSK will take the lead on preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing, and marketing processes, thereby leveraging its extensive resources and expertise in the pharmaceutical sector.

Urgent Need for New Therapies

Christopher Austin, Senior Vice President of Research Technologies at GSK, highlighted the pressing need for innovative therapeutics in light of the burgeoning incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly as populations age. Current treatments often fall short of efficacy without a reliable means of overcoming the BBB. This partnership illustrates GSK’s commitment to pioneering platform technologies to surmount such barriers and signifies an exciting advancement towards better treatment solutions for patients.

The Vision from ABL Bio

Sang Hoon Lee, CEO of ABL Bio, emphasized the strategic importance of the deal, portraying it as a testament to ABL Bio's leadership in BBB technology. This collaboration with GSK not only advances therapeutic innovation but also reinforces ABL Bio’s position in the neurodegenerative disease treatment marketplace. With the global prevalence of conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s escalating, this alliance is seen as a beacon of hope for potential new therapies that could significantly improve patient outcomes.

A Glimpse into ABL Bio’s Future Endeavors

ABL Bio is known for its diverse clinical and preclinical pipelines, built on its bispecific antibody platform, Grabody. The company currently has clinical projects under development for seven distinct programs across various indications in key markets including the United States, China, Australia, and South Korea. Among these, ABL001 (Tovecimig) has garnered Fast Track designation from the U.S. FDA, fast-tracking its development process. Additionally, ABL111 (Givastomig), developed alongside I-Mab, is expected to release Phase 1b clinical trial data in 2025. Furthermore, ABL Bio is gearing up for the initiation of clinical trials for ABL104, while continuously exploring bispecific antibody drug conjugates and other novel candidates.

As ABL Bio and GSK embark on this transformative journey within the biopharmaceutical landscape, their collaboration signifies a pivotal step towards developing proactive therapeutic measures for patients grappling with neurodegenerative diseases, promising a brighter future for medical interventions in this critical health area.