ABL Bio said on the 16th that it will participate in the world's largest biotech event, "BIO International Convention (BIO USA) 2026," to be held June 22–25 (local time) in San Diego, and move to expand global partnerships.
Chief Executive Lee Sang-hun is scheduled to join the "Korea Rising" session on the 23rd as a panelist to discuss the competitiveness of Korea's biotech industry and opportunities for global collaboration.
ABL Bio will meet with global pharmaceutical and biotech corporations during the event to discuss collaboration on its blood-brain barrier (BBB) shuttle platform "Grabody-B" and its 4-1BB-based bispecific immuno-oncology platform "Grabody-T."
In particular, Grabody-B was licensed out in succession last year to GSK plc in the United Kingdom and Eli Lilly and Company in the United States, gaining recognition for its platform competitiveness in the global market. In February this year, research results were announced showing that when Grabody-B is combined with siRNA (small interfering RNA), drugs can be delivered not only to brain tissues including the cerebellum but also to various tissues such as muscle, heart and lungs, drawing increased interest from related corporations.
ABL Bio also plans to present the clinical development status of immuno-oncology therapies based on Grabody-T. The lead pipeline, "Zevastomig (ABL111)," is in a phase 2 trial as a first-line gastric cancer treatment in combination with chemotherapy (FOLFOX) and the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab, and the company is pursuing entry into phase 3 with the goal of accelerated approval in the fourth quarter of this year.
Another Grabody-T-based bispecific antibody, "Lazistomig (ABL503)," will expand its clinical strategy from development centered on monotherapy to combination regimens.
Along with this, ABL Bio will examine trends in next-generation bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technologies, including dual-payload ADCs, and seek global new drug development trends and collaboration opportunities.
ABL Bio Chief Executive Lee Sang-hun said, "At this year's BIO USA, we plan to actively explore a range of business development opportunities, including building long-term partnerships," adding, "As nonclinical and clinical data steadily accumulate, interest is growing not only among corporations already in collaboration talks but also among new corporations, and we will do our best to achieve meaningful results."