VERAXA Biotech AG (NASDAQ: VRXA) announced on [date] 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). According to the company, OmniAb has successfully completed its discovery work, allowing the program to progress 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. Under the agreement, 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.
The advancement of VXA-222 marks a significant step for VERAXA, which is building a pipeline of next-generation antibody-based therapeutics, including bispecific T cell engagers, bispecific ADCs and other innovative formats. The company’s technologies are guided by quality-by-design principles and are rapidly advancing its ADCs and proprietary BiTAC formats into clinical development. VERAXA was founded on scientific breakthroughs made at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL).
The “AND-gate” approach of VXA-222 is particularly noteworthy because it requires the presence of two distinct tumor antigens for the molecule to be activated, potentially reducing off-target effects and improving the therapeutic index for solid tumors. This mechanism could address some of the limitations of traditional ADCs, which often target a single antigen and can lead to toxicity in healthy tissues that express that antigen.
For investors, the milestone indicates progress in VERAXA’s pipeline and the successful execution of its collaboration with OmniAb. The company’s stock is traded on NASDAQ, and further updates are available in the company’s newsroom.
The announcement underscores the growing interest in bispecific ADCs as a promising modality in oncology. By combining the targeting capabilities of bispecific antibodies with the potent cytotoxic payloads of ADCs, these molecules have the potential to offer more precise and effective treatments for patients with solid tumors. VERAXA’s progress in this area may position it as a key player in the evolving landscape of cancer therapeutics.
