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.
The collaboration, launched in May 2025, leverages OmniAb’s antibody discovery technologies, including its OmniClic™ platform, while VERAXA applies 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. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the development of next-generation antibody-based therapeutics, which could offer more targeted and effective treatments for cancer patients.
The advancement of VXA-222 underscores the potential of bispecific ADCs to overcome limitations of traditional cancer therapies by simultaneously targeting two tumor antigens, potentially reducing off-target effects and improving efficacy. The AND-gate approach ensures that the therapeutic effect is activated only when both antigens are present, enhancing precision. This innovation could address unmet medical needs in solid tumors, which often present complex and heterogeneous antigen landscapes.
For VERAXA, this progress strengthens its pipeline and validates its technology platform, positioning the company for future clinical development. The collaboration with OmniAb provides access to advanced discovery tools, accelerating the path to clinical candidates. Investors and industry observers will watch for further updates as VXA-222 advances, with potential implications for the bispecific ADC landscape.
The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/qMRuJ. For more information about VERAXA Biotech, visit their newsroom at http://ibn.fm/VRXA.
