Neok Bio Emerges with $75M to Develop Dual-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Neok Bio, a new player in the biotechnology arena, has launched with a substantial $75 million Series A funding round to advance its innovative approach to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The company aims to overcome limitations of conventional ADCs by developing "bispecific" versions that simultaneously target two cancer-related proteins.

Innovative ADC Technology

Neok Bio's platform focuses on creating ADCs that can home in on what the company describes as "unique pairs" of cancer targets. This dual-targeting approach is designed to enhance both the efficacy and safety profiles of ADCs, potentially addressing a wider range of solid tumors with greater precision.

Two lead programs are at the forefront of Neok's pipeline:

1. Neok001: Targeting B7-H3 and ROR1, two proteins involved in tumor growth
2. Neok002: Focusing on cells expressing EGFR and MUC1

Both candidates have shown promise in preclinical studies, demonstrating potential advantages over typical ADCs across various tumor types.

Strategic Partnerships and Technology

The company's principal investor, ABL Bio, a Korean antibody engineering specialist, brings significant expertise to the table. ABL Bio's track record in developing bispecific antibodies for cancer and neurological diseases, along with partnerships with pharmaceutical giants like GSK and Sanofi, provides Neok with a strong foundation.

Neok has also licensed linker technology from Synaffix, now owned by Lonza, which has gained popularity among biotech companies. CEO Mayank Gandhi highlighted this technology as "getting established as one of the top-tier linker payload platforms from a manufacturing standpoint."

Clinical Timeline and Future Prospects

With the newly secured funding, Neok Bio plans to advance its two lead programs into human testing as early as next year. The company anticipates initial results from these studies by 2027.

While specific indications have not been disclosed, Gandhi indicated that Neok's technology could potentially target tumors with significant unmet needs, including thoracic, gastrointestinal, and gynecological cancers.

As the ADC field continues to evolve, Neok Bio's entry with its dual-targeting approach represents another step in the ongoing efforts to refine and improve upon this promising class of cancer therapeutics.