Harbour BioMed, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative antibody-based treatments in immunology and oncology, has announced a global strategic partnership with Otsuka Pharmaceutical to advance its BCMAxCD3 bispecific T-cell engager, HBM7020, for autoimmune diseases.

As part of the agreement, Otsuka will hold exclusive global rights—excluding Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan)—to develop, manufacture and market HBM7020. Harbour BioMed will receive an initial and near-term payment totalling US$47 million. The company is also eligible to receive up to US$623 million in milestone-based payments, along with tiered royalties on future net sales.

The collaboration brings together Harbour BioMed’s proprietary technology platforms, Harbour Mice® and HBICE®, which are designed to enable the development of fully human bispecific antibodies with enhanced safety and efficacy. The partnership also lays the groundwork for possible future collaborations in the T-cell engager field between the two companies.

Otsuka aims to strengthen its autoimmune disease pipeline through this alliance, adding HBM7020 to its research efforts that already include platforms from its subsidiaries Visterra and Jnana. HBM7020 is being developed for a range of autoimmune conditions where B cells have a central role in disease development.

Source: prnewswire.com