Epsilogen acquires TigaTx to develop pan-isotope most cancers antibody pipeline

Epsilogen and TigaTx haven’t disclosed the monetary phrases of the deal. Credit score: RealPeopleGroup by way of Getty Photographs.

UK biotech Epsilogen has acquired US-based antibody developer TigaTx in a deal that collates work from the 2 firms’ different antibody isotopes for most cancers.

The transfer combines Epsilogen’s medical deal with immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies with TigaTx’s work on immunoglobulin A (IgA), creating what the businesses describe as a “pan-isotope” platform for oncology.

The monetary phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed, however TigaTx will turn out to be a completely owned subsidiary of Epsilogen as a part of the transaction.

Whereas most authorized antibody therapies – like Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca’s Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) – are based mostly on the immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotope, Epsiologen and TigaTx are creating candidates that harness different immune pathways. IgE antibodies utilized by Epsilogen are designed to activate immune responses via macrophages and T cells whereas TigaTX’s IgA platform targets neutrophils.

“Combining the capabilities of Epsilogen with these of TigaTx provides us the power to decide on essentially the most related isotype for a given most cancers, whether or not a chilly tumour atmosphere we wish to drive a number of immune effector cells into or leverage neutrophils,” stated Epsilogen’s CEO Tim Wilson within the 7 April announcement.

“The transaction additionally facilitates the mixture of various isotype capabilities right into a single antibody molecule,” Wilson added.

Epsilogen’s lead asset, MOv18 IgE, is at the moment being investigated in a Part Ib research (NCT06547840) in sufferers with platinum-resistant ovarian most cancers. Earlier Part I knowledge confirmed MOv18 IgE to be secure and properly tolerated with indicators of medical exercise.

MOv18 IgE is positioned as a possible rival to AbbVie’s Elahere (mirvetuximab soravtansine) as a result of each candidates goal the folate receptor alpha (FRa). Elahere secured full approval by the US Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024 for the remedy of FRα-positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or main peritoneal most cancers.

In response to GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Middle, Elahere is projected to make $2bn in gross sales in 2030.

GlobalData is the father or mother firm of Pharmaceutical Know-how.

The acquisition provides a second medical candidate to the pipeline within the type of TigaTX’s TIGA-001, an anti-EGFR IgA antibody that may now be developed below Epsilogen as EPS-401. The remedy is predicted to enter the clinic subsequent 12 months. The broader pipeline contains extra IgE candidates concentrating on numerous tumour-associated antigens, all in preclinical levels.

Each firms accomplished funding rounds in 2024. In September, Epsilogen raised £43.25m in a Sequence B funding spherical led by current backers British Affected person Capital, the Novartis Enterprise Fund, Epidarex Capital, the 3B Future Well being Fund and ALSA Ventures. In the meantime, TigaTx introduced as much as $35.5m in funding in December. The funds got here from the Superior Analysis Tasks Company for Well being (ARPA-H) and a two-year small enterprise innovation analysis (SBIR) grant from the Nationwide Most cancers Institute (NCI) of the US Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH).