China-based InxMed (Nanjing) Co., Ltd has entered into a strategic partnership with Shanghai Huaota Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd to collaborate on pre-clinical and clinical studies for a combination therapy targeting various solid tumors. The partnership will focus on combining InxMed’s IN10018, a selective oral inhibitor of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), with Huaota Bio’s HB0030, a monoclonal antibody targeting T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domains (TIGIT). The two companies will share clinical study costs and rights to the resulting combination therapy. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
IN10018: Targeting Drug Resistance in Solid Tumors
IN10018 is an innovative FAK inhibitor developed by InxMed, designed to address platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck tumors, pancreatic cancer, RAS mutant tumors, and other solid tumors with limited treatment options. Emerging evidence suggests that inhibiting the FAK signaling pathway can reverse chemotherapy and targeted therapy resistance, enhance the response of solid tumors to immunotherapy, and act as a master regulator in related signaling pathways.
HB0030: Enhancing Anti-Tumor Immunity
Huaota Bio’s HB0030 is a high-affinity monoclonal antibody targeting TIGIT, a protein highly expressed on immunosuppressive Treg cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and NK cells. By blocking the interaction between TIGIT and its ligand CD155, HB0030 relieves immunosuppression and reactivates the tumor-killing effects of T cells and NK cells. Additionally, HB0030’s strong ADCC/CDC activity enables it to kill Treg cells, further alleviating immunosuppression and enhancing anti-tumor responses. The activation of NK cells and macrophages also promotes the release of inflammatory cytokines, amplifying the overall anti-tumor effect.-Fineline Info & Tech
