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.
Under the collaboration launched in May 2025, OmniAb provided antibody discovery technologies, including its OmniClic platform, while VERAXA is applying 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 is significant because it demonstrates progress in the burgeoning field of bispecific ADCs, which aim to overcome limitations of traditional ADCs by enhancing tumor selectivity and reducing off-target toxicity. The AND-gate logic requires binding to both targets simultaneously, potentially leading to more precise tumor cell killing and a wider therapeutic window. For VERAXA, this advancement strengthens its pipeline and validates its technology platform, while for OmniAb, it showcases the utility of its antibody discovery tools in complex therapeutic formats.
The collaboration leverages complementary strengths: OmniAb’s transgenic animal platforms generate diverse antibody repertoires, and VERAXA’s linker and conjugation technologies enable stable attachment of cytotoxic payloads. The companies have not disclosed the specific targets or payload, but the success of VXA-222 could pave the way for additional bsADC programs. The global ADC market is projected to exceed $30 billion by 2030, and innovative formats like bispecific ADCs are expected to capture a growing share.
For investors, this news highlights the potential value of the partnership and the technical de-risking of VERAXA’s lead candidate. However, the program is still in preclinical stages, and further development will require additional clinical validation. The companies have not provided a timeline for IND filing or clinical trials. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/qMRuJ.
VERAXA Biotech AG is building a pipeline of next-generation antibody-based therapeutics, including bispecific T cell engagers and bispecific ADCs, guided by quality-by-design principles. The company was founded on scientific breakthroughs at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). More information is available at http://ibn.fm/VRXA.
