Shanghai Zhimeng Biopharma Inc. has announced the signing of a global licensing agreement with UK major GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) focused on Zhimeng’s in-house developed toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) agonist CB06. The agreement, with no financial details disclosed, grants GSK development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights to the drug candidate once it completes Phase I trials managed by Zhimeng Bio.
CB06: Mechanism and Potential Uses
CB06 is a TLR8 agonist that has shown good selectivity, activity, and safety in preclinical studies. It can induce cytokines in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which activate antiviral functions through various immune mediators. CB06 also has strong liver-targeting characteristics, making it a promising candidate for hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatment. If successful, CB06 can be used in combination with other drugs or as sequential therapy combined with bepirovirsen, an antisense oligonucleotide therapy co-developed by GSK and Ionis Pharmaceutical.
Zhimeng Bio’s Core Programs
Zhimeng Bio is a specialist biopharma focused on liver and central nervous system diseases. Its core anti-HBV program, nucleocapsid inhibitor ZM-H1505R, has completed Phase Ib stage studies and is entering the Phase II stage. This progress highlights Zhimeng Bio’s commitment to advancing innovative treatments for hepatitis B and other liver-related conditions.-Fineline Info & Tech
