Mereo BioPharma Group plc has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with āshibio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, for vantictumab. This monoclonal antibody will be developed for the treatment of autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type 2 (ADO2), a rare and debilitating bone disorder that currently lacks approved therapies. The licensing agreement represents a strategic expansion of āshibio’s pipeline in bone and connective tissue disorders.
Under the terms of the agreement, āshibio will assume responsibility for the global clinical development of vantictumab in both adult and pediatric patients. Mereo has granted āshibio an exclusive license to develop and commercialize vantictumab in the US and the rest of the world. Importantly, Mereo retains commercial rights for vantictumab in Europe, allowing it to potentially benefit from future sales in that region.
Vantictumab is a monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to certain frizzled (Fzd) receptors and inhibits Wnt signaling pathways. The asset has previously been evaluated in oncology clinical trials, where it demonstrated a favorable safety and pharmacokinetic profile. Prior clinical data also provided biomarker evidence supporting vantictumab's activity on osteoclast function, which de-risks its clinical program for ADO2.
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