AbCellera drops its OX40 drug program following industry-wide setbacks

Background

AbCellera was developing ABCL575, an antibody targeting the OX40 ligand intended to treat atopic dermatitis and other autoimmune conditions. While its phase 1 trial successfully met tolerability and pharmacokinetic goals, the company decided not to advance the candidate past this initial stage, citing external developments across the entire OX40 drug class.

Industry Context

The broader OX40 class has faced significant hurdles recently. Earlier in the year, Kyowa Kirin and Amgen halted clinical studies for rocatinlimab due to emerging malignancy concerns. Subsequently, Sanofi scrapped regulatory submission plans for amlitelimab, conceding it offered no meaningful therapeutic improvement despite originating from an expensive $1.1 billion acquisition. Conversely, some developers like Inhibrx Biosciences remain optimistic, reporting positive early results for cancer immunotherapy combinations.

Pipeline Shift

With the OX40 program shelved, AbCellera is shifting its internal focus toward other pipeline assets. Its lead candidate is now ABCL635, an NK3 receptor-targeting antibody for menopausal hot flashes, which recently achieved a phase 2 success and is positioned as a potential non-hormonal therapy competing with existing commercial options.