Lonza grants Antharis exclusive license to develop dual-payload ADCs for GI cancers

CAR-T Digest - August 2020

Weekly Digest - June 2026

15 June 2026: Lonza grants Antharis exclusive license to develop dual-payload ADCs for GI cancers

Antharis Therapeutics has entered into an exclusive, target-specific licensing agreement with Lonza to develop next-generation dual-payload antibody-drug conjugates for Gastrointestinal cancers, expanding its capabilities in precision oncology and strengthening its ADC development platform
Under the agreement, Antharis will gain access to Lonza’s clinically validated, site-specific dpADC technology platform, combining it with the company’s proprietary antibody engineering and target biology expertise to develop highly differentiated ADC candidates for GI and other cancer indications
The collaboration will initially support Antharis’ lead ADC program, which is expected to enter clinical development soon, with the goal of developing first- and best-in-class therapies capable of overcoming multidrug resistance and improving outcomes in difficult-to-treat gastrointestinal malignancies
Dual-payload ADCs represent an emerging next-generation ADC modality that combines two distinct cytotoxic payloads within a single antibody, a strategy designed to enhance anti-tumor activity, address tumor heterogeneity, and potentially overcome resistance mechanisms that can limit the efficacy of conventional single-payload ADCs
Strategically, the agreement positions Antharis among a growing group of companies advancing dual-payload ADCs, while providing access to validated conjugation, linker, and payload technologies that could accelerate clinical development and strengthen its competitive position in the rapidly evolving gastrointestinal oncology ADC landscape