Ymmunobio signs second in-license agreement

Ymmunobio was founded in 2021 by Katrin Rupalla based on an exclusive license to develop and commercialize the proprietary CEACAM (Carcinoembryonic Antigen-related Cell Adhesion Molecules) antibody platform of LeukoCom GmbH, Germany. The company’s proprietary platform is based on the leading research of Bernhard B. Singer, University Essen/Duisburg, Germany.

Four months following the in-licensing of CEACAM antibody platform, the startup signed a purchase agreement with LeukoCom to acquire the patents and intellectual property to several CEACAM antibodies, including YB-200, an immune-agonistic CEACAM1 antibody for the potential treatment of melanoma and other solid tumors. With this purchase, the company obtained all the rights to CEACAM1 antibodies YB-200, YB-300, YB-400 and one additional antibody targeting CEACAM8. It will also have the rights to all future CEACAM-related patents developed or secured by LeukoCom GmbH.

New antibody in the pipeline
The company has again expanded its portfolio to include drug candidates targeting gastro-intestinal cancers. It has secured ownership to neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPTXR) antibodies from Nagoya University. NPTXR have shown utility for developing therapeutics and for novel diagnostic tools in treating several gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric cancer. NPTXR antibodies were invented by Professor Mitsuro Kanda, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya University, Japan.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide and is estimated to make up 10% of all cancers. On the other hand, gastric cancer (stomach cancer) was found to be the fifth most common malignant tumor in the world in 2020 and the fourth leading cause of cancer death globally, with approximately 800,000 deaths.

The potential impact of NPTXR in developing antibodies to treat solid tumors is especially significant considering that 35% of colon cancer patients have a high expression of NPTXR, while 50% of gastric cancer patients have a high expression of NPTXR. Ymmunobio has begun developing the lead, fully humanised and first-in-class NPTXR antibody, YB-800, which has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in vivo and in vitro for solid tumors, including several gastrointestinal and breast cancers.

“Ymmunobio's ownership of NPTXR represents a great leap forward for our company," said Ymmunobio Founder and CEO Katrin Rupalla. "Our lead antibody YB-800 directly targets various cancers overexpressing NPTXR and selectively kills cancer cells so that healthy tissue is not affected. This antibody is extending our innovative pipeline of first-in-class or novel antibodies. We are optimistic that our ongoing preclinical development with NPTXR will enable us to start IND-enabling studies by the end of this year."

Besides Katrin Rupalla, Ymmunobio is supported by Bernhard B. Singer as an investor and Chief Science Officer and Peter Schiemann as Chief Operations Officer. The startup is currently enrolled in the Innosuisse StartUp-Coaching Program.

(Press release/RAN)