TegMine Therapeutics has entered into a collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to advance its innovative two-factor antibody system for the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in cancer treatment.
The partnership will begin with a program targeting a clinically validated antigen, with the potential to expand to two additional cancer targets.
TegMine will apply its proprietary TegMiner platform, which identifies novel tumour-specific glycan epitopes often missed by conventional discovery methods. The two-factor antibody system is engineered to improve therapeutic accuracy by requiring recognition of both glycan and protein markers, thereby enhancing specificity and efficacy while reducing on-target, off-tumour toxicity.
“At TegMine, we are exploiting the unique biology of tumour-associated glycans, molecular signatures that are highly prevalent in aggressive solid tumours yet largely absent in healthy tissues,” said Jeff Bernstein, CEO of TegMine Therapeutics.
“This collaboration endorses our approach, and specifically our two-factor antibody system, which unlocks specific tumour-associated antigens and targets that were previously inaccessible with other technologies. We are excited to translate this approach into potentially meaningful therapies for patients alongside a world-class partner in Boehringer Ingelheim.”
Under the agreement, TegMine will receive an upfront payment and research funding for each selected target, plus option fees for additional targets. The company is also eligible for preclinical, clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, along with royalties on net sales of any resulting products.
Boehringer Ingelheim will retain worldwide development and commercialization rights for all targets generated through the collaboration.