VERAXA Biotech (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. 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. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/qMRuJ.
This milestone is significant because it demonstrates progress in a novel therapeutic approach that could address key limitations of conventional ADCs, which often suffer from off-target toxicity and limited efficacy in heterogeneous tumors. By requiring the simultaneous binding of two tumor antigens, the AND-gate mechanism of VXA-222 aims to enhance tumor selectivity and reduce damage to healthy tissues. If successful, this could expand the therapeutic window for ADC-based treatments and offer new options for patients with solid tumors that are difficult to treat.
VERAXA, founded on scientific breakthroughs at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), is building a pipeline of next-generation antibody-based therapeutics, including bispecific T cell engagers and bispecific ADCs. The company’s proprietary BiTAC format and quality-by-design principles underpin its development strategy. The latest news and updates relating to VRXA are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/VRXA.
The advancement of VXA-222 also underscores the value of strategic collaborations in biotech, where companies leverage complementary technologies to accelerate drug development. OmniAb’s antibody discovery capabilities combined with VERAXA’s linker and conjugation expertise create a synergy that could yield a best-in-class bispecific ADC. For investors, this milestone may signal reduced technical risk and progress toward clinical development, though forward-looking statements caution that actual results may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties detailed in VERAXA’s SEC filings.
