TCG Labs' Juri Biosciences Secures $210M Deal for EpimAb’s Prostate Cancer Therapy

TCG Labs’ Juri Biosciences Lands $210M Deal for EpimAb’s Prostate Cancer T-Cell Engager

Highlights

• Juri Biosciences, incubated by TCG Labs Soleil, secured exclusive licensing rights from EpimAb Biotherapeutics for a T-cell engager targeting metastatic prostate cancer.
• The deal is valued at up to $210 million, including upfront, milestone payments, and royalties.
• The therapeutic candidate targets KLK2 and CD3, utilizing EpimAb’s multispecific antibody technology.
• EpimAb has prior collaborations, including a December 2024 research deal with Candid Therapeutics focused on autoimmune diseases.
• TCG Labs Soleil operates a venture-biotech model, fostering independent portfolio companies focused on single-asset development.
• Both companies aim to accelerate clinical progress against prostate cancer, a major cause of male cancer mortality.

Exclusive Licensing Agreement for Novel T-cell Engager

TCG Labs Soleil’s incubated biotech, Juri Biosciences, has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with EpimAb Biotherapeutics, granting rights to a promising T-cell engager designed to treat metastatic prostate cancer. The deal, announced on May 27, is valued at up to $210 million, encompassing upfront and milestone payments as well as royalties.

Innovative Multispecific Antibody Technology Targeting KLK2 and CD3

The agreement centers around EpimAb’s early-stage therapeutic candidate that targets kallikrein-related peptidase 2 (KLK2) and CD3. This asset originates from EpimAb’s proprietary multispecific antibody platform, which rearranges DNA sequences from two monoclonal antibodies into three genetic constructs. This design aims to preserve the biological functions of the parent antibodies, thereby enhancing therapeutic potential, according to the company’s official website.

EpimAb’s Expanding Collaborations and Validation

EpimAb Biotherapeutics, based in Shanghai, has previously attracted partnerships within the immunology and hematology sectors. Notably, in December 2024, it signed a research collaboration with Candid Therapeutics to develop novel T-cell engager candidates targeting autoimmune diseases. The recent alliance with Juri Biosciences signals a strategic expansion into solid tumor therapeutics, which CEO and founder Dr. Chengbin Wu highlighted as a significant validation of the company’s platform beyond its initial focus.

Juri Biosciences and TCG Labs Soleil’s Venture-Biotech Model

Juri Biosciences remains relatively undisclosed to the public, but it operates under TCG Labs Soleil, a division of The Column Group. TCG Labs Soleil employs a venture-biotech approach, managing an R&D hub and supporting independent portfolio companies, each dedicated to advancing single-asset programs. This model is designed to expedite the transition of innovative assets into clinical development.

Leadership Perspective on the Partnership and Disease Impact

Juri Biosciences CEO Dr. Jin-Long Chen emphasized the significance of this external innovation acquisition, highlighting the commitment to rapid clinical advancement. He underscored the critical unmet need in metastatic prostate cancer, noting that KLK2 is a prostate-specific antigen that could enable more precise and targeted therapies. Prostate cancer continues to be a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men, reinforcing the importance of this collaboration.