Eli Lilly has made a significant move in the biopharma sector with its acquisition of CrossBridge Bio, a preclinical startup focused on next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). This initiative is aimed at enhancing the potency of cancer treatments available to patients.
The terms of the deal, which were announced on Tuesday, involve a payment of up to $300 million. While specific financial details were not disclosed, it is understood that the amount includes an upfront payment and a subsequent milestone payment tied to an undisclosed development stage.
Antibody-drug conjugates deliver a toxic drug payload directly to tumors by leveraging the targeting abilities of antibodies. CrossBridge, based in Houston, specializes in developing ADCs engineered to carry dual drug payloads. This innovative approach aims to expand the therapeutic index, balancing safety and efficacy while potentially overcoming mechanisms of drug resistance that many cancers exhibit.
CrossBridge’s lead program, CBB-120, targets TROP2, a protein commonly found in various solid tumors, including breast and lung cancers. Existing ADC therapies, such as Gilead Sciences‘ Trodelvy, already target TROP2 to treat specific breast and bladder cancers. Unlike Trodelvy, which utilizes a single payload that inhibits topoisomerase 1, CrossBridge’s dual payload strategy incorporates both a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor and an ATR inhibitor, the latter of which is known to support cancer cell survival. An investigational new drug application for CBB-120 is anticipated later this year.
Founded in 2023, CrossBridge was built upon ADC technology developed by Kyoji Tsuchikama, a medicinal chemistry professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. The company secured $10 million in seed funding in 2024, led by TMC Venture Fund and CE-Ventures. Earlier, in 2023, it received a $15 million grant from the Texas Cancer Prevention and Research Institute to support IND-enabling studies for CBB-120.
Michael Torres, co-founder and CEO of CrossBridge, expressed optimism about the acquisition, stating, “We are eager to see how Lilly advances our next-generation dual payload ADCs, including CBB-120, with the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients with limited treatment options.” He emphasized that CrossBridge believes its dual payload ADC platform is uniquely positioned to transform the oncology landscape.
Lilly is no stranger to ADC research and development. Its clinical pipeline includes the ADC miptécan, designed to target the folate receptor alpha for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, which is currently in Phase 3 trials. In 2023, Lilly also acquired Emergence Therapeutics, a German ADC developer, and is advancing an ADC targeting nectin-4, ETx-22, for urothelial cancer, as detailed in Lilly’s annual report.
The acquisition of CrossBridge adds to a recent trend of strategic collaborations in the ADC space. For instance, Gilead recently announced a $3.15 billion agreement to acquire Tubulis, a clinical-stage ADC developer with technologies aimed at enhancing ADC stability and payload capacity. Additionally, Sidewinder Therapeutics and Stipple Bio have emerged with novel approaches to improve ADC targeting capabilities.
Photo by a Flickr user Paul Sabléman via a Creative Commons license
