US-based startup HBM Alpha Therapeutics (HBMAT), Inc., an innovative biotechnology company incubated by China-based Harbour BioMed (HKEX: 02142), has announced a strategic collaboration and license agreement with a business partner to advance novel therapies targeting corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) for various disorders.
Under the agreement, the partner gains exclusive global rights, excluding Greater China (mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau), to develop and commercialise HAT001 (designated as HBM9013 by Harbour BioMed), a potent and selective anti-CRH-neutralising antibody.
In return, HBMAT is eligible to receive up to $395 million, including upfront, development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on future net product sales. Additionally, HBMAT is also entitled to a warrant to receive minority interest in the partner.
HAT001/HBM9013 is designed to neutralise CRH for various disorders, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). CAH is a group of autosomal recessive diseases due to mutations in genes that encode for enzymes necessary for synthesis of key adrenal hormones, which lead to serious health consequences. Current standard of care therapy of CAH was introduced more than 70 years ago. It has not changed significantly since and still has huge unmet medical needs. HAT001/HBM9013 aims to dramatically improve standard of care and improve patient outcomes. It has demonstrated strong preclinical efficacy in downregulating CRH-mediated induction of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and is being advanced toward clinical development.
