Biocytogen-B (02315): Enters Option-Rights Agreement with Acepodia to Advance Bispecific ADC Programs
NewTimeSpace reports that Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Stock Code: 2315) announced on January 12 that it has entered into an option and license agreement ("the Agreement") with Acepodia Co., Ltd. ("Acepodia"), aiming to conduct systematic evaluation of bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (BsADC) projects through a structured assessment mechanism to further accelerate development of bispecific antibody-dual drug conjugates (BsAD2C).
Under the Agreement, Biocytogen will grant Acepodia an option to obtain global exclusive licenses for two BsADC projects. Pursuant to the terms, Biocytogen is entitled to receive an option upfront payment, and upon exercise of the option, may receive subsequent payments including option exercise fees, development and regulatory milestone payments, commercialization milestone payments, and future product sales royalties.
The announcement states this Agreement deepens collaboration initiated earlier this year between Biocytogen and Acepodia. The previous partnership focused on evaluating and screening bispecific antibody and dual-payload ADC candidates with drug potential. Based on completed preclinical research, Biocytogen believes that combining its RenLite® fully human common light chain antibody development platform with Acepodia's antibody-dual drug conjugation (AD2C) technology provides a promising pathway for next-generation BsAD2C development.
The expanded collaboration aims to leverage complementary platform advantages to advance next-generation ADC molecular design, potentially overcoming certain limitations observed in traditional ADC programs. The joint team is steadily advancing critical assessment milestones, with progression decisions to be made based on ongoing research data combined with Acepodia's internal processes and option exercise criteria.
Regarding independence, to the best of directors' knowledge and belief, Acepodia and its ultimate beneficial owners are independent of Biocytogen and its connected persons (as defined under the Listing Rules of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited) and have no relationship with them. The transactions under the Agreement do not constitute any notifiable transaction or connected transaction for the Company under the Listing Rules.
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