USA—US-based Candid Therapeutics has signed a new partnership with Chinese biotech company WuXi Biologics, gaining exclusive global rights to a promising preclinical asset.
This partnership, which focuses on a tri-specific T-cell engager (TCE) discovered using WuXi’s WuXiBody platform, comes shortly after WuXi Biologics announced plans to sell its vaccine manufacturing facility in Dundalk, Ireland, to U.S. pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. for US$500 million.
Under the terms of the deal, Candid will have global rights to the preclinical TCE, which targets specific immune cells.
In return, WuXi Biologics will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and potential development and sales milestones, totalling up to US$925 million.
Candid has plans to begin first-in-human studies of the TCE in the first half of 2026, although the companies have not yet revealed the specific diseases or conditions the TCE will target.
Candid’s CEO, Dr. Ken Song, expressed excitement about the new partnership, highlighting that the company now has three TCE programs targeting BCMA, CD20, and CD19, which are in or nearing clinical development.
He also mentioned that they are looking forward to advancing WuXi Biologics’ progress and unlocking the full potential of this new molecule.
T-cell engagers are engineered antibodies that help the immune system’s T cells recognize and attack specific cells.
This technology has gained attention for its potential in cancer treatment, where TCEs are used to target and eliminate cancer cells.
Additionally, TCEs show promise in treating autoimmune diseases by targeting autoreactive B cells, which are responsible for causing damage to the body.
Candid Therapeutics has been focused on expanding its TCE capabilities, particularly in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Over the past year, the company has secured several major deals, including research partnerships with EpimAb Biotherapeutics and Nona Biosciences.
Depending on the achievement of certain milestones, the agreement with EpimAb could be worth more than US$1 billion, while the partnership with Nona Biosciences could be worth up to US$320 million.
Candid made its debut in the biotech world in September 2024 with a successful US$370 million Series A funding round, which enabled the company to bring its two lead assets, CND106 and CND261, into development.
CND106 is a bispecific antibody designed to target and eliminate harmful B cells, while CND261 targets a wide range of B-cell subtypes.
Both candidates have already completed Phase I dose escalation studies in oncology patients and are now being developed for unmet needs in autoimmune diseases.
With its expanding pipeline and partnerships, Candid Therapeutics is positioning itself as a leader in the field of T-cell engagers, with the potential to make significant strides in treating both cancer and autoimmune disorders.
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