China-based Alphamab Oncology (HKG: 9966) has announced the dosing of the first patient in a Phase I clinical trial in China (KN052-CHN-001) for its pipeline candidate KN052. This bispecific antibody (BsAb) targets programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and OX40 and is being evaluated as a treatment for general advanced solid tumors.
Mechanism and Development Status
KN052 is a potential first-in-class PD-L1/OX40 BsAb designed to block the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway, reversing immunosuppression while activating the OX40 signaling pathway to prevent tumor cell immune escape. The investigational new drug (IND) application for KN052 was approved in China in February 2022, marking the first time this type of drug has entered human trials.
Company’s R&D Capabilities
Alphamab Oncology takes pride in its comprehensive platforms for discovery, R&D, and manufacturing of bispecific antibodies and protein engineering across the entire industry chain. This infrastructure supports a diverse product pipeline that includes monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). Currently, five products are in the clinical stage in China, the US, Japan, and Australia. Notably, the company’s KN035 was approved in China in November 2021 for the treatment of adult patients with advanced solid tumors that are unresectable or exhibit microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or deficient mismatch repair gene (dMMR).-Fineline Info & Tech
