Harbour BioMed Enters into Partnership with Otsuka to Advance Bispecific T-Cell Engager for Autoimmune Diseases
Monday, June 23, 2025
Harbour BioMed has entered into a global strategic collaboration with Otsuka Pharmaceutical to develop and commercialise HBM7020, a BCMAxCD3 bispecific T-cell engager, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
HBM7020 is engineered to connect B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) on target cells and CD3 on T cells, triggering T cell activation and the targeted destruction of disease-associated cells. The bispecific antibody uses dual anti-BCMA binding for enhanced targeting and a single CD3 binding domain to help reduce cytokine release syndrome. It has shown strong potential in preclinical studies for both immune-related and cancer indications.
Under the agreement, Otsuka will hold exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialise the therapy outside Greater China, which includes Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Harbour BioMed will receive $47 million in upfront and near-term payments, with the potential to earn up to $623 million in milestone-based payments, in addition to tiered royalties on future net sales.
Otsuka plans to incorporate HBM7020 into its expanding pipeline of autoimmune disease treatments, supported by the technology platforms of its subsidiaries, Visterra and Jnana.
The therapeutic candidate is expected to be effective across a range of autoimmune conditions where B cells play a key role.
This collaboration strengthens Harbour BioMed’s position in the T-cell engager space and supports the use of its proprietary Harbour Mice® and HBICE® platforms, which are designed to develop fully human bispecific antibodies with improved safety and efficacy.
Source: harbourbiomed.com
