Mablink Breaks into ADC Space with $30M for Improved Linker Tech
Summary
France-based biotech Mablink secured $30 million (31 million EUR) to develop next-generation antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of cancer.The finances will be used to advance its lead ADC candidate MBK-103 into the clinic and support the development of a pipeline of ADCs with the companys proprietary platform, its PSARlink masking technology.The PSARlink technology allows chemicals to circulate longer in the body, improving their impact without harming healthy cells, the company said. In addition to its masking capabilities, the PSARlink technology is designed to enable the ADC to remain within the body for a longer period, in order to destroy the tumor cells.In its announcement, Mablink said its technology platform has demonstrated a 10-fold increase in the therapeutic index observed in animal models. If that can translate into humans, the company believes it has a game-changing platform on its hands.Jean-Guillaume Lafay, chief executive officer and co-founder of Mablink, told BioSpace the companys technology resolves the hydrophobicity issue of ADCs.Rather than adapting the molecule to adapt them in the ADC format or changing the conjugation methods, Mablink decided to camouflage them with a unique masking entity, which can be used with theoretically any active molecule, Lafay explained.MBK-103 is an ADC that combines the companys proprietary linker technology and exatecan, a potent Topoisomerase-I inhibitor, as the payload. MBK-103 targets Folate Receptor Alpha (FRa), a protein overexpressed in multiple solid tumors where there is high unmet need, including ovarian or triple-negative breast cancers.Although no timeline was given, Lafay said the company aims to take it into the clinic as quickly as possible.Beyond MBK-103, Lafay said the company intends to propose a new drug candidate every 12 to 18 months. Existing investors including Elaia Partners, UI-Investissement / Pertinence Invest 2, Sham Innovation Sant\xe9, Fondation Fournier-Majoie, Simba Sant\xe9 and Cr\xe9dit Agricole Cr\xe9ation also participated in the Series A.The company currently has a 20-member team, but with the financing, Lafay said there are plans to scale.