ABL Bio said on the 12th that it signed a technology transfer and joint research and development agreement with U.S.-based Eli Lilly for the "Grabody-B" platform, a technology that penetrates the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
Under the deal, the two companies plan to develop new drugs based on various treatment modalities using Grabody-B. ABL Bio is set to receive an upfront payment of $40 million (585 billion won) and up to $2.562 billion (3.7487 trillion won), including development, regulatory, and commercialization milestones (license fees). It will also receive tiered royalties based on product net sales.
The blood-brain barrier lets oxygen and nutrients pass but blocks larger substances from reaching the brain. Grabody-B is a technology that crosses the blood-brain barrier to deliver antibodies to the brain and is being used to develop treatments for degenerative brain diseases. Through the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), drugs penetrate the blood-brain barrier and deliver medicines to deep regions of the brain.
A leading drug candidate being developed with Grabody-B is "ABL301," a Parkinson's disease treatment candidate that was out-licensed to Sanofi in 2022. A phase 1 clinical trial was recently completed. The platform can be applied to the development of treatments for various central nervous system (CNS) diseases and is drawing attention for treating intractable brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.
Earlier, in Apr., ABL Bio also signed a technology transfer deal for this platform with GSK plc and received a 74 billion won upfront payment. The technology transfer deal could be worth up to 4.1 trillion won.
The company aims to expand its treatment areas from degenerative brain diseases to obesity and muscle diseases through the joint research with Lilly.
ABL Bio Chief Executive Lee Sang-hun said, "This technology transfer agreement is very encouraging in that the range of modalities to which the Grabody platform can be applied continues to expand," and added, "Riding this momentum, ABL Bio plans to broaden Grabody's indications into areas such as obesity and muscle diseases, where new treatment options are needed."