Oxford BioTherapeutics to develop bispecifics using WuXi Biologics’ platform

Oxford BioTherapeutics Ltd. (Abingdon, U.K.) hopes to treat patients who do not benefit from existing immunotherapies by developing five bispecific antibodies on the WuXiBody platform from WuXi Biologics Inc. (HKSE:2269) that combine Oxford's OX001R with an antibody against PD-L1. Oxford CEO Christian Rohlff told BioCentury that development will focus on solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer, bladder cancer and breast cancer.

Oxford has worked to improve response rates and reduce toxicity by identifying targets with the highest expression on NK cells and cytotoxic T cell subsets, and the lowest expression on other types of immune and non-immune cells. The company is entering the NK field with an undisclosed checkpoint receptor-ligand pair, dubbed OX001R and OX001L (see “NK Cell Check-In”)...