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Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd, a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies, announced that the company has entered into the strategic collaboration with Antengene Corporation Limited.
Under the collaboration, the parties will jointly evaluate the synergistic therapeutic potential of Junshi Biosciences’ JS207, a recombinant humanized anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, in combination with Antengene’s ATG-037, an oral small-molecule CD73 inhibitor, in patients with solid tumors in Chinese Mainland, with the goal of identifying clinical signals across multiple tumor types.
JS207, Junshi Biosciences’ independently developed recombinant humanized anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, has demonstrated promising anti-tumor activity and a manageable safety profile in both preclinical and clinical studies. JS207’s preclinical studies demonstrated its robust anti-tumor efficacy in multiple tumor models and supported a differentiated mechanism of action, with VEGFA shown to enhance JS207’s antigen binding activity, T-cell activation potency and internalization of cell-surface PD-1.
ATG-037, Antengene’s orally administered small-molecule CD73 inhibitor, offers significant advantages over anti-CD73 mAbs. In preclinical studies, ATG-037 demonstrated stronger inhibition of cell-surface CD73 enzymatic activity and overcame the “hook effect” commonly observed with antibody-based approaches. In addition, ATG-037’s higher tissue penetration compared with antibodies may facilitate complete CD73 inhibition at the cellular level.
The scientific rationale for the collaboration is based on the complementary and potentially synergistic mechanisms of CD73 inhibition and dual PD-1/VEGF targeting. CD73 is recognized as a key regulator of immune suppression and angiogenesis within the tumor microenvironment through the generation of adenosine, which can dampen anti-tumor immune responses.
Junshi Biosciences and Antengene are leveraging their respective expertise in target biology and clinical development to accelerate the evaluation of JS207 in combination with ATG-037 across multiple solid tumor types, with the goal of identifying clinical signals and delivering more innovative treatment options for patients in Chinese Mainland.
