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

ABL Bio Announces Licensing Agreement with GSK for Grabody-B Platform

In a significant advancement for neurodegenerative disease treatment, ABL Bio Inc. has entered into a licensing agreement with GSK to utilize its Grabody-B platform. This strategic partnership focuses on the development of innovative medications aimed at addressing a range of neurodegenerative conditions. Such diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, are increasing in prevalence, particularly amidst an aging population.

The Innovational Potential of Grabody-B

The Grabody-B platform is designed to tackle one of the most critical challenges in drug development: crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB serves as a protective shield that limits harmful substances from reaching the brain; however, it also restricts essential medications from accessing their targets in neurological disorders.

Grabody-B is engineered to improve the delivery of various therapeutic agents, such as antibodies and oligonucleotides, across this barrier. The technology specifically targets the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R), enhancing drug penetration into the cerebral environment. Through this innovative approach, ABL Bio aims to facilitate the administration of promising new therapies that could dramatically improve patient outcomes.

Financial Framework of the Agreement

As part of the agreement, ABL Bio is poised to receive up to £77.1 million in initial and short-term payments, which includes an immediate payment of £38.5 million. This also encompasses funding contingent on reaching specific research milestones and the potential expansion of the partnership. If successful, ABL Bio could yield an impressive total of £2.075 billion through various milestone payments across the multiple programs eventually launched under this collaboration.

In addition, ABL Bio will obtain royalties based on net sales if the developed products successfully hit the market. ABL will transfer the relevant technology and know-how associated with Grabody-B to GSK, which will then oversee preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing, and marketing initiatives for the new treatments.

Comments from Key Executives

Christopher Austin, Senior Vice President of Research Technologies at GSK, expressed the urgent need for new therapies, highlighting the challenges of delivering antibodies to the brain effectively. He stated, "Many newer promising therapies are antibodies that can’t efficiently reach the brain. This agreement underscores our commitment to innovative platform technologies that can penetrate the BBB and open up therapeutic avenues for neurodegenerative diseases."

Sang Hoon Lee, CEO of ABL Bio, echoed this sentiment, asserting that the alliance strengthens ABL Bio's position in the neurodegenerative disease treatment market. He remarked, "This agreement not only highlights our leadership in BBB technology but also emphasizes our commitment to advancing transformative therapies for unmet medical needs. We expect this partnership to accelerate the development of innovative treatments and restore hope for patients worldwide."

ABL Bio's Commitment to Innovation

ABL Bio, which is publicly traded on KOSDAQ under the symbol 298380, is actively developing multiple clinical and non-clinical assets utilizing its proprietary bispecific antibody platform, Grabody. Currently, the company has seven production lines in clinical projects, aiming to address a variety of therapeutic areas across international markets, including the United States, China, Australia, and South Korea.

As part of its ongoing commitment to research and development, ABL Bio is also working on promising candidates such as ABL301, ABL001 (tovecimig), and ABL111 (givastomig), which have garnered attention for their potential to improve the treatment landscape of various diseases.

This collaborative effort with GSK represents a pivotal moment not just for ABL Bio, but for the broader pharmaceutical landscape, signifying a step toward overcoming the barriers faced in treating neurodegenerative diseases and potentially changing the lives of millions of patients globally.