UK biotech Epsilogen has bought US-based TigaTx, pooling their resources to create what it says will be a leader in 'pan-isotope' cancer antibodies.

英国生物技术公司Epsilogen收购了美国的TigaTx，整合资源以打造其所谓的“泛同位素”癌症抗体领域的领导者。

Epsilogen

埃普西隆ген

rose to prominence a few years ago by becoming the first biotech to start clinical testing of an antibody therapy for cancer based on immunoglobulin E (IgE), a departure from most therapeutic antibodies that belong to the IgG class. It's stayed with the maverick approach with its purchase of TigaTx, as the US company focuses on IgA-based antibodies..

几年前，该公司通过成为第一家开始基于免疫球蛋白E（IgE）进行癌症抗体治疗临床测试的生物技术公司而崭露头角，这与大多数属于IgG类的治疗性抗体不同。通过收购TigaTx，该公司坚持了这一特立独行的方法，因为这家美国公司专注于基于IgA的抗体。

Joining forces means that the combined company can now select 'the most appropriate antibody isotype for a given cancer,' according to a joint statement, which notes that IgA antibodies are good at activating neutrophils, while IgE antibodies tend to exert their effects through T cells and macrophages..

根据联合声明，合并后的公司现在可以为特定的癌症选择“最合适的抗体同种型”，该声明指出，IgA抗体擅长激活中性粒细胞，而IgE抗体往往通过T细胞和巨噬细胞发挥作用。

'Combining the capabilities of Epsilogen with those of TigaTx gives us the ability to choose the most relevant isotype for a given cancer, whether a cold tumour environment we want to drive multiple immune effector cells into or leverage neutrophils,' said Epsilogen chief executive Tim Wilson.

Epsilogen 首席执行官蒂姆·威尔逊表示：“将 Epsilogen 的能力与 TigaTx 的能力相结合，使我们能够为特定癌症选择最相关的同种型，无论是在我们希望驱动多种免疫效应细胞进入的冷肿瘤环境，还是利用中性粒细胞。”

He also said that the merger opens up the prospect of combining different isotype functions into a single antibody molecule. These hybrid antibodies have the potential to activate multiple compartments of the immune system, as well as offer improved pharmacological profiles.

他还说，这次合并开启了将不同同型功能组合到单一抗体分子中的前景。这些混合抗体有可能激活免疫系统的多个部分，并提供改进的药理特性。

Now, Epsilogen's portfolio can span antibodies which combine IgE and IgG functionality into a single molecule (IgEGs), bispecific IgEs and IgEGs that can bind two different antigens simultaneously, and IgA molecules with improved manufacturing profiles.

现在，Epsilogen 的产品组合可以涵盖将 IgE 和 IgG 功能结合到单个分子中的抗体（IgEGs）、能够同时结合两种不同抗原的双特异性 IgEs 和 IgEGs，以及具有改进生产特性的 IgA 分子。

Both biotechs are privately held, and financial terms have not been disclosed. Boston-based TigaTx will now operate as a subsidiary of Epsilogen, and the transaction follows financings of $35.5 million and £43.25 million (around $55 million), respectively, last year.

两家生物技术公司均为私人所有，财务条款尚未披露。总部位于波士顿的TigaTx现在将作为Epsilogen的子公司运营，此交易之前，去年分别完成了3550万美元和4325万英镑（约合5500万美元）的融资。

The combined pipeline includes one clinical-stage candidate, namely Epsilogen's folate receptor alpha-targeting MOv18 Ig which is a phase 1b proof-of-concept study in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, which is a potential rival to AbbVie's

综合管道包括一个临床阶段的候选药物，即Epsilogen的叶酸受体α靶向MOv18 Ig，该药物正在进行一项针对铂耐药卵巢癌的1b期概念验证研究，这是AbbVie潜在的竞争对手。

Elahere

艾拉赫尔

(mirvetuximab soravtansine) which was approved by the FDA in 2022.

（米妥昔单抗索拉坦辛），该药于2022年获得FDA批准。

TigaTx meanwhile, which has been flying under the radar until now, is contributing TIGA-001 (now renamed EPS 401), an anti-EGFR IgA antibody with studies underway to prepare for human trials in 2026.

与此同时，一直保持低调的TigaTx公司正在贡献其研发的TIGA-001（现已更名为EPS 401），这是一种抗EGFR的IgA抗体，相关研究正在进行中，以准备在2026年开展人体试验。

The company has said its IgA-based drug has the potential to benefit patients with resistance or intolerance to approved anti-EGFR therapies, noting that less than 25% of patients respond to the current generation of drugs.

该公司表示，其基于IgA的药物有可能使对已批准的抗EGFR疗法产生耐药性或不耐受的患者受益，并指出只有不到25%的患者对当前一代药物有反应。