Core Insights - The article discusses the rise of innovative drug companies in China, particularly in the field of cancer immunotherapy, as they shift from following trends to pioneering original research and development [2] Company Overview - Leads Biolabs, a Chinese company focused on tumor immunotherapy, is currently in clinical stages and aims to address diseases that existing PD-(L)1 therapies cannot treat [3][5] - The company has 14 candidate innovative drugs, with 4 in the top three of global clinical progress, potentially becoming first-in-class drugs [5] Market Context - The PD-(L)1 target has become highly competitive, with 20 approved monoclonal antibodies in China, yet the response rate for PD-(L)1 monotherapy is only about 20%, leaving a significant portion of patients without effective treatment [4][10] - The global sales of the PD-1 drug "K" reached approximately $32.056 billion in 2024, highlighting the lucrative nature of immunotherapy [3] Strategic Focus - The company has chosen to focus on LAG-3 and other targets instead of PD-(L)1, aiming to develop unique therapies that can address the limitations of existing treatments [10][11] - The company has established three core technology platforms: IO2.0 (4-1BB), TCE (CD3), and ADC (antibody-drug conjugates), which are expected to define the future of oncology [10][16] Clinical Development - The PD-L1/4-1BB dual antibody (code LBL-024) is currently in Phase III clinical trials in China, showing promising results with a 75% objective response rate and a 92.3% disease control rate in a recent study [11][12] - The company plans to submit a biological product license application to the Chinese regulatory authority in Q3 2026, with conditional approval expected by Q2 2027 [17] Financing and IPO - Leads Biolabs has completed 8 rounds of financing, raising a total of 1.084 billion yuan, with a significant increase in valuation from 40 million yuan in 2015 to 3.1 billion yuan in 2024 [13][14] - The company went public in July 2025, initially aiming to raise $100 million but increasing the target to $189 million due to market conditions, achieving a record subscription rate on its first trading day [15] Future Outlook - The company aims to expand its indications from rare cancers to larger cancer types, with plans to target 8 indications this year and 10 next year [17] - The commercialization strategy involves a light asset approach, collaborating with CDMOs for production while considering establishing its own manufacturing base in the future [18]
维立志博康小强：不卷PD-1，领跑肿瘤免疫治疗2.0 | 进击的创新药企