VERAXA Biotech AG (NASDAQ: VRXA) and Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG have announced initial positive results from their strategic research collaboration aimed at developing next-generation antibody oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs) for autoimmune and chronic immune diseases. The early in vitro studies demonstrated that an AOC candidate combining the companies' technologies exhibited greater potency than the equivalent unconjugated oligonucleotide, suggesting the potential of this approach to selectively deliver therapeutic oligonucleotides to disease-specific cells.
The collaboration leverages VERAXA's proprietary click chemistry-powered conjugation technology, which the company says demonstrates potential applications beyond its primary focus on solid tumors. "These initial results are encouraging and underscore the versatility of our conjugation platform," said a spokesperson for VERAXA. "We are excited about the possibilities this opens for treating autoimmune and chronic immune diseases."
The companies are currently discussing next steps in the collaboration, indicating a commitment to advancing the program. This news is significant because it validates the feasibility of using AOCs to target diseases beyond oncology, potentially expanding the therapeutic reach of oligonucleotide-based treatments.
VERAXA Biotech is building a premier engine for the discovery and development of next-generation antibody-based therapeutics, including bispecific T cell engagers, bispecific ADCs, and other innovative formats. The company was founded on scientific breakthroughs made at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and is guided by rigorous quality-by-design principles.
For more information on VERAXA Biotech, visit the company's newsroom at http://ibn.fm/VRXA.
The full press release can be viewed at https://ibn.fm/IF9Cy.
