GIBF invests $10 M in Israel-based startup Nectin Therapeutics to advance Antibody Drug Conjugates

Guangzhou-Israel Biotechnology Fund (GIBF) has invested $10 million in Nectin Therapeutics. Israel-based startup Nectin is a biotechnology company developing novel targeted immunotherapies that address resistance to approved immune oncology treatments.

The funds will be used to continue the development of Nectin's portfolio of novel immuno-oncology products, including the advancement of Nectin's ongoing NTX1088 global Phase 1 clinical trial targeting PVR and the preclinical development of its anti-drug conjugate (ADC) portfolio.

NTX1088 is Nectin's First-in-Class lead candidate - a highly potent monoclonal antibody directed against PVR (CD155), a transmembrane protein expressed on cancer cells and associated with resistance to PD1 and PDL1 immune checkpoint inhibitors. PVR blockade by NTX1088 is the first and only therapeutic approach aiming at restoring the antitumor immune activity of DNAM1 (CD226). DNAM1 is a cell surface glycoprotein, central to the function of T and NK cells, that is suppressed by PVR on tumor cells. Restoring the expression and activation of DNAM1 by blocking PVR results in increased antitumour activity from T and NK cells. PVR blockade by NTX1088 further stimulates an antitumour immune response by preventing the suppressing signaling of several immune checkpoint receptors, including TIGIT and CD96.

According to Fabian Tenenbaum, CEO of Nectin Therapeutics, "With this new investment we are looking forward to completing both the dose-escalation and dose-expansion trials for NTX1088 and continue our IND-enabling activities of our ADC assets."