I-Mab Strengthens Givastomig Intellectual Property Portfolio through Acquisition of Bridge Health
I-Mab (NASDAQ: IMAB) has announced the acquisition of Bridge Health Biotech in a strategic move to strengthen its intellectual property portfolio for givastomig, a CLDN18.2 x 4-1BB bispecific antibody. The transaction provides I-Mab with rights to bispecific and multi-specific applications of the CLDN18.2 parental antibody.
The deal includes an upfront payment of $1.8 million, non-contingent payments of $1.2 million through 2027, and potential milestone payments up to $3.875 million. The acquisition eliminates future royalty obligations and reduces milestone payments for givastomig.
Recent Phase 1b dose escalation data showed promising results with an 83% objective response rate in selected doses for expansion cohorts. The company expects to present topline results from the Phase 1b dose expansion combination study in Q1 2026.
I-Mab (NASDAQ: IMAB) ha annunciato l'acquisizione di Bridge Health Biotech in una mossa strategica per rafforzare il proprio portafoglio di propriet脿 intellettuale relativo a givastomig, un anticorpo bispecifico CLDN18.2 x 4-1BB. L'operazione conferisce a I-Mab i diritti sulle applicazioni bispecifiche e multispecifiche dell'anticorpo parentale CLDN18.2.
L'accordo prevede un pagamento iniziale di 1,8 milioni di dollari, pagamenti non condizionati di 1,2 milioni di dollari fino al 2027 e potenziali pagamenti milestone fino a 3,875 milioni di dollari. L'acquisizione elimina gli obblighi futuri di royalty e riduce i pagamenti milestone per givastomig.
I dati recenti di escalation di dose della Fase 1b hanno mostrato risultati promettenti con un tasso di risposta obiettiva dell'83% nelle dosi selezionate per le coorti di espansione. L'azienda prevede di presentare i risultati principali dello studio di espansione della dose in combinazione della Fase 1b nel primo trimestre del 2026.
I-Mab (NASDAQ: IMAB) ha anunciado la adquisici贸n de Bridge Health Biotech en un movimiento estrat茅gico para fortalecer su cartera de propiedad intelectual relacionada con givastomig, un anticuerpo bispec铆fico CLDN18.2 x 4-1BB. La transacci贸n otorga a I-Mab los derechos sobre aplicaciones bispec铆ficas y multispec铆ficas del anticuerpo parental CLDN18.2.
El acuerdo incluye un pago inicial de 1,8 millones de d贸lares, pagos no contingentes de 1,2 millones de d贸lares hasta 2027 y posibles pagos por hitos de hasta 3,875 millones de d贸lares. La adquisici贸n elimina futuras obligaciones de regal铆as y reduce los pagos por hitos para givastomig.
Los datos recientes de la fase 1b de escalada de dosis mostraron resultados prometedores con una tasa de respuesta objetiva del 83% en dosis seleccionadas para las cohortes de expansi贸n. La compa帽铆a espera presentar los resultados principales del estudio de expansi贸n de dosis en combinaci贸n de la fase 1b en el primer trimestre de 2026.
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斓滉芳 1b靸� 鞖╇焿 歃濍焿 雿办澊韯半姅 頇曥灔 旖旐樃韸胳潣 靹犿儩霅� 鞖╇焿鞐愳劀 83%鞚� 臧濌磤鞝� 氚橃潙毳�鞚措澕電� 鞙犽頃� 瓴瓣臣毳� 氤挫榾鞀惦媹雼�. 須岇偓電� 2026雲� 1攵勱赴鞐� 1b靸� 鞖╇焿 頇曥灔 氤戩毄 鞐瓣惮鞚� 欤检殧 瓴瓣臣毳� 氚滍憸頃� 鞓堨爼鞛呺媹雼�.
I-Mab (NASDAQ : IMAB) a annonc茅 l'acquisition de Bridge Health Biotech dans une d茅marche strat茅gique visant 脿 renforcer son portefeuille de propri茅t茅 intellectuelle pour givastomig, un anticorps bisp茅cifique CLDN18.2 x 4-1BB. Cette transaction conf猫re 脿 I-Mab les droits sur les applications bisp茅cifiques et multispecifiques de l'anticorps parental CLDN18.2.
L'accord comprend un paiement initial de 1,8 million de dollars, des paiements non conditionnels de 1,2 million de dollars jusqu'en 2027 et des paiements potentiels li茅s 脿 des jalons pouvant atteindre 3,875 millions de dollars. Cette acquisition supprime les obligations futures de redevances et r茅duit les paiements li茅s aux jalons pour givastomig.
Les donn茅es r茅centes de l'escalade de dose en phase 1b ont montr茅 des r茅sultats prometteurs avec un taux de r茅ponse objective de 83% aux doses s茅lectionn茅es pour les cohortes d'expansion. La soci茅t茅 pr茅voit de pr茅senter les r茅sultats principaux de l'茅tude d'expansion de dose en combinaison de la phase 1b au 1er trimestre 2026.
I-Mab (NASDAQ: IMAB) hat die 脺bernahme von Bridge Health Biotech bekannt gegeben, um sein geistiges Eigentumsportfolio f眉r givastomig, einen CLDN18.2 x 4-1BB bispezifischen Antik枚rper, strategisch zu st盲rken. Die Transaktion sichert I-Mab die Rechte an bispezifischen und multispezifischen Anwendungen des CLDN18.2-Elternantik枚rpers.
Der Deal umfasst eine Anzahlung von 1,8 Millionen US-Dollar, nicht bedingte Zahlungen von 1,2 Millionen US-Dollar bis 2027 sowie potenzielle Meilensteinzahlungen von bis zu 3,875 Millionen US-Dollar. Die 脺bernahme beseitigt zuk眉nftige Lizenzgeb眉hrenverpflichtungen und reduziert Meilensteinzahlungen f眉r givastomig.
Aktuelle Phase-1b-Dosiseskalationsdaten zeigten vielversprechende Ergebnisse mit einer objektiven Ansprechrate von 83% bei ausgew盲hlten Dosen f眉r Erweiterungskohorten. Das Unternehmen plant, die Topline-Ergebnisse der Phase-1b-Dosis-Erweiterungskombinationsstudie im 1. Quartal 2026 vorzustellen.
- Acquisition eliminates all royalty obligations and reduces future milestone payments for givastomig
- Phase 1b trial showed strong 83% objective response rate in selected doses
- CLDN18.2 parental antibody demonstrates higher affinity than competitors, including approved therapies
- Faster than expected enrollment in Phase 1b dose expansion cohorts
- Strategic enhancement of intellectual property portfolio strengthens market position
- Additional financial obligations of $3 million in upfront and non-contingent payments
- Future milestone payments of up to $3.875 million add to acquisition costs
Insights
I-Mab's acquisition of Bridge Health eliminates royalties and strengthens IP for givastomig, boosting its commercial potential.
I-Mab's acquisition of Bridge Health represents a strategic intellectual property maneuver with significant commercial implications. By securing upstream rights to the CLDN18.2 parental antibody, I-Mab has effectively consolidated its IP portfolio around givastomig, their lead bispecific antibody candidate. This transaction accomplishes three critical objectives: it eliminates all future royalty obligations, reduces milestone payment liabilities, and strengthens their exclusivity position for bispecific and multi-specific applications of the CLDN18.2 antibody.
The deal structure is notably favorable - an upfront payment of only
The technical advantages of the acquired CLDN18.2 parental antibody are particularly noteworthy. The higher binding affinity across various CLDN18.2 expression levels (high, medium, and low) provides a critical differentiation from competing antibodies, including those in already approved therapies. This property directly contributes to givastomig's potential best-in-class profile and could translate to broader efficacy across patient populations with varying levels of CLDN18.2 expression.
The clinical progress reported for givastomig significantly strengthens I-Mab's position in the competitive landscape of CLDN18.2-directed therapies. The
The accelerated enrollment in the Phase 1b dose expansion cohorts suggests both investigator enthusiasm and patient demand, positive indicators that often correlate with promising clinical activity. The timeline acceleration for topline readout to Q1 2026 is meaningful as it potentially advances the entire development program and shortens the path to potential market approval.
From a scientific perspective, the bispecific antibody approach targeting both CLDN18.2 and 4-1BB represents a sophisticated mechanism of action. CLDN18.2 provides tumor targeting specificity, while 4-1BB engagement activates T-cells within the tumor microenvironment. This dual-targeting strategy could potentially offer advantages over monospecific CLDN18.2 antibodies or ADCs by simultaneously addressing both tumor recognition and immune activation.
The potential expansion beyond gastric cancer into other solid tumors is scientifically plausible given that CLDN18.2 expression has been documented in pancreatic, esophageal, and other GI malignancies. This would substantially increase givastomig's addressable patient population and commercial potential if clinical benefit extends to these additional indications.
- Acquisition provides I-Mab with upstream rights to CLDN18.2 parental antibody for use in bispecific and multi-specific applications
- Acquisition eliminates all royalty obligations and reduces future milestones for givastomig due to Bridge Health by I-Mab
ROCKVILLE, Md., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- I-Mab (NASDAQ: IMAB) (the Company), a U.S.-based, global biotech company, focused on the development of precision immuno-oncology agents for the treatment of cancer, today announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire
鈥淎dvancing givastomig is I-Mab鈥檚 top priority. The strategic acquisition of Bridge Health emphasizes I-Mab鈥檚 focus on enhancing the value of givastomig. With this transaction, I-Mab has further enriched the potential value of givastomig by strengthening upstream intellectual property rights, reducing future milestone payments, and unencumbering givastomig of future royalties,鈥� said Sean Fu, PhD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of I-Mab. 鈥淧ositive Phase 1b dose escalation data recently presented at ESMO GI 2025 has enhanced our confidence that givastomig has the potential to be a best-in-class CLDN18.2-directed therapy for gastric cancers and beyond. Continued clinical trial momentum has enabled faster than expected enrollment in the Phase 1b dose expansion cohorts, and we now expect to provide a topline readout in Q1 of 2026.鈥�
The CLDN18.2 parental antibody utilized in givastomig has been observed to show a higher affinity to human CLDN18.2 than other antibodies, including antibodies used in approved CLDN18.2-directed therapies. Additionally, the CLDN18.2 parental antibody has been observed to exhibit stronger binding affinity to cell lines expressing high, medium and even low levels of CLDN18.2. These characteristics are believed to be core to the differentiation of givastomig as a potential best-in-class, bispecific antibody designed to treat Claudin 18.2-positive cancers.
Givastomig is in development for the treatment of first line metastatic gastric cancers, with potential to expand into other solid tumors. Recently presented positive data from a Phase 1b dose escalation immunochemotherapy combination study showed an
Transaction Terms
Under the terms of the agreement, I-Mab will pay Bridge Health shareholders an upfront payment of
Sidley Austin LLP served as legal advisor to I-Mab in connection with the transaction.
About Givastomig
Givastomig听(TJ033721 / ABL111) is a bispecific antibody targeting Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)-positive tumor cells. It conditionally activates T cells through the 4-1BB signaling pathway in the tumor microenvironment where CLDN18.2 is expressed. Givastomig is being developed for first line (1L) metastatic gastric cancers, with further potential in other solid tumors. In Phase 1 trials, givastomig has shown promising anti-tumor activity attributable to a potential synergistic effect of proximal interaction between CLDN18.2 on tumor cells and 4-1BB on T cells in the tumor microenvironment, while minimizing toxicities commonly seen with other 4-1BB agents.
An ongoing Phase 1b study is evaluating givastomig for the treatment of gastric cancer in the 1L setting in combination with standard of care, nivolumab (an anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor) plus chemotherapy, in dose escalation and dose expansion cohorts. Data from the dose escalation cohorts (n=17), presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress showed an
Givastomig is being jointly developed through a global partnership with ABL Bio, in which听I-Mab听is the lead party and shares worldwide rights equally with ABL Bio, excluding听Greater China听and听South Korea.
About I-Mab
I-Mab (NASDAQ: IMAB) is a U.S.-based, global biotech company, focused on the development of precision immuno-oncology agents for the treatment of cancer. The Company鈥檚 differentiated pipeline is led by givastomig, a potential best-in-class, bispecific antibody (Claudin 18.2 x 4-1BB) designed to treat Claudin 18.2-positive gastric cancers. Givastomig conditionally activates T cells via the 4-1BB signaling pathway in the tumor microenvironment where Claudin 18.2 is expressed. Givastomig is being developed for first line metastatic gastric cancers, with additional potential in other solid tumors. In ongoing Phase 1 trials, givastomig has been observed to maintain strong tumor-binding and anti-tumor activity, attributable to a potential synergistic effect of proximal interaction with Claudin 18.2 and 4-1BB, while minimizing toxicities commonly seen with other 4-1BB agents.
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I-Mab Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the 鈥渟afe harbor鈥� provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as 鈥渨ill鈥�, 鈥渆xpects鈥�, 鈥渂elieves鈥�, 鈥渄esigned to鈥�, 鈥渁nticipates鈥�, 鈥渇uture鈥�, 鈥渋ntends鈥�, 鈥減lans鈥�, 鈥減otential鈥�, 鈥渆stimates鈥�, 鈥渃onfident鈥�, and similar terms or the negative thereof. I-Mab may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about I-Mab鈥檚 beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding: the Company鈥檚 pipeline and clinical development of I-Mab鈥檚 drug candidates, including givastomig; the projected advancement of the Company鈥檚 portfolio and anticipated milestones and related timing; the closing of the acquisition in the third quarter of 2025; the timing and progress of studies and trials (including with respect to patient enrollment); the potential benefits of givastomig; and the availability and timing of data and information from ongoing studies and trials. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following: I-Mab鈥檚 ability to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its drug candidates; the clinical results for its drug candidates, which may or may not support further development or New Drug Application/Biologics License Application (NDA/BLA) approval; the content and timing of decisions made by the relevant regulatory authorities regarding regulatory approval of I-Mab鈥檚 drug candidates; I-Mab鈥檚 ability to achieve commercial success for its drug candidates, if approved; I-Mab鈥檚 ability to obtain and maintain protection of intellectual property for its technology and drugs; I-Mab鈥檚 reliance on third parties to conduct drug development, manufacturing and other services; I-Mab鈥檚 limited operating history; I-Mab鈥檚 ability to obtain additional funding for operations and to complete the development and commercialization of its drug candidates; I-Mab鈥檚 expectations regarding the impact of data from ongoing and future clinical trials; I-Mab鈥檚 ability to integrate Bridge Health鈥檚 businesses, intellectual property rights and other assets; as well as those risks more fully discussed in the 鈥淩isk Factors鈥� section in I-Mab鈥檚 annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 3, 2025, as well as the discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in I-Mab鈥檚 subsequent filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to I-Mab. I-Mab undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
I-Mab Investor & Media Contacts
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FAQ
What is the significance of I-Mab's acquisition of Bridge Health for IMAB stock?
How much is I-Mab (IMAB) paying for the Bridge Health acquisition?
What are the Phase 1b clinical trial results for I-Mab's givastomig?
When will I-Mab (IMAB) release the topline results for givastomig's Phase 1b expansion study?
How does I-Mab's givastomig compare to other CLDN18.2-directed therapies?
