VERAXA Biotech AG (NASDAQ: VRXA) has announced the advancement of its bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (bsADC) program, VXA-222, following the successful completion of discovery work by OmniAb (NASDAQ: OABI) under their ongoing collaboration. The milestone allows the program to transition into its next development phase, bringing the novel therapeutic candidate closer to clinical evaluation. VXA-222 employs an innovative “AND-gate” approach, designed to target two distinct tumor antigens simultaneously with a single molecule, aiming to improve precision and reduce off-target effects in treating solid tumors.
The collaboration, initiated in May 2025, leverages OmniAb’s antibody discovery technologies, including the OmniClic platform, while VERAXA contributes its proprietary linker technology and conjugation expertise to develop and validate the lead bsADC candidate. Under the agreement, VERAXA holds exclusive rights to develop and commercialize products stemming from the collaboration, with OmniAb entitled to a share of specified revenue generated from resulting products.
“This milestone underscores the strength of our collaboration with OmniAb and the potential of our bispecific ADC platform,” said a spokesperson for VERAXA. “By combining OmniAb’s advanced discovery capabilities with our proprietary linker and conjugation technologies, we are well-positioned to advance VXA-222 toward clinical development and address significant unmet needs in oncology.”
Bispecific ADCs represent a next-generation class of cancer therapeutics that can simultaneously engage two different targets, potentially improving tumor selectivity and overcoming resistance mechanisms. The “AND-gate” logic requires the presence of both antigens for full activation, which may enhance the therapeutic window by sparing healthy tissues. This approach is particularly relevant for solid tumors, where heterogeneity and antigen escape often limit the efficacy of conventional ADCs.
VERAXA Biotech AG, headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, is building a pipeline of antibody-based therapeutics, including bispecific T cell engagers, bispecific ADCs, and other innovative formats. The company’s technologies are rooted in scientific breakthroughs from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), a leading institution in life science research. VERAXA’s proprietary BiTAC platform is a registered trademark of VERAXA Biotech GmbH.
For more information about VERAXA Biotech AG, visit http://ibn.fm/VRXA.
