Adagene Expands SAFEbody® Collaboration and License Agreement with Exelixis to Develop Third Novel Masked Antibody-Drug Conjugate

Core Insights - Adagene Inc. announced an amendment to its collaboration and license agreement with Exelixis, allowing Exelixis to utilize Adagene's SAFEbody technology platform for developing an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting a solid tumor [1][2] Company Overview - Adagene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel antibody-based cancer immunotherapies, leveraging computational biology and artificial intelligence [5] - The company has established strategic collaborations with global partners to utilize its SAFEbody precision masking technology [5] Technology and Innovation - The SAFEbody technology enables antibodies or ADCs to remain "invisible" until they reach the tumor microenvironment, which enhances therapeutic index and minimizes toxicity to healthy cells [3][6] - Adagene's lead SAFEbody candidate, ADG126, is currently in a Phase 1b/2 study for metastatic microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer, with a Phase 2 trial expected to start before the end of 2025 [4][7] Clinical Development - ADG126 targets a unique epitope of CTLA-4 in regulatory T cells within the tumor microenvironment and is being studied in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy [7] - The SAFEbody platform is validated for various antibody-based therapeutic modalities, including Fc empowered antibodies and bi/multispecific T-cell engagers [7]