VERAXA Biotech AG (NASDAQ: VRXA) announced the advancement of its bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (“bsADC”) program, VXA-222, after reaching a key technical milestone in its collaboration with OmniAb (NASDAQ: OABI). The company said OmniAb has successfully completed its discovery work, allowing the program to move into its next phase. VXA-222 is designed to target two tumor antigens with a single molecule using an “AND-gate” approach intended to improve precision in treating solid tumors.
Under the collaboration launched in May 2025, OmniAb provided antibody discovery technologies, including its OmniClic™ platform, while VERAXA is applying its proprietary linker technology and conjugation expertise to develop and validate the lead bsADC candidate. VERAXA holds exclusive rights to develop and commercialize products arising from the collaboration, with OmniAb entitled to a share of specified revenue generated from resulting products. The advancement of VXA-222 represents a significant step forward in the development of next-generation antibody-based therapeutics, particularly for solid tumors that are often difficult to treat with conventional therapies.
The “AND-gate” approach is a novel strategy that requires the presence of both tumor antigens for the drug to be activated, potentially reducing off-target effects and improving the therapeutic index. This precision targeting could lead to better outcomes for patients and fewer side effects compared to traditional ADCs that target a single antigen. As the program moves into the next phase, VERAXA will focus on further development and validation of the lead candidate, with the goal of advancing toward clinical trials.
VERAXA Biotech AG 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. Powered by a suite of transformative technologies and guided by rigorous quality-by-design principles, the company is rapidly advancing its pipeline of ADCs and proprietary BiTAC® formats into clinical development and beyond. VERAXA was founded on scientific breakthroughs made at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), a world-renowned institution known for pioneering life science research and cutting-edge technology.
For more information, visit the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/VRXA. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/qMRuJ.
