VERAXA Biotech AG (NASDAQ: VRXA) announced Tuesday the advancement of its bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (bsADC) program, VXA-222, following a key technical milestone achieved in its collaboration with OmniAb (NASDAQ: OABI). According to the company, OmniAb has successfully completed its discovery work, enabling the program to transition into its next development phase.
VXA-222 is designed to target two tumor antigens with a single molecule using an “AND-gate” approach, which is 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 terms of the collaboration, VERAXA holds exclusive rights to develop and commercialize products arising from the partnership, 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 and bispecific ADCs.
The company’s pipeline is powered by transformative technologies and guided by quality-by-design principles, aiming to rapidly advance its ADCs and proprietary BiTAC formats into clinical development. VERAXA was founded on scientific breakthroughs made at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), a world-renowned institution for life science research.
For investors, the latest news and updates on VRXA are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/VRXA.
This development underscores the growing interest in bispecific ADCs as a potential approach to enhance the specificity and efficacy of cancer treatments. By targeting two antigens simultaneously, VXA-222 aims to reduce off-target effects and improve therapeutic outcomes for patients with solid tumors. The successful completion of the discovery phase by OmniAb suggests that the collaboration is on track, and the next phase will likely involve further preclinical validation and preparation for clinical trials.
VERAXA’s focus on bispecific ADCs aligns with broader industry trends toward more precise cancer therapies. The company’s exclusive rights to commercialize resulting products provide a clear path to market if development succeeds. However, as with any early-stage drug development, risks remain, including potential technical challenges and regulatory hurdles.
Overall, the advancement of VXA-222 represents a positive signal for VERAXA and its partners, highlighting progress in the complex field of bispecific antibody-drug conjugates.
