The acquisition brings forward a dual-payload antibody-drug conjugate platform originally developed at UTHealth Houston’s McGovern Medical School.
Eli Lilly has acquired CrossBridge Bio, a collaboration that could lead to the clinical development of a new generation of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) designed to improve cancer treatment.
The acquisition brings forward a dual-payload ADC technology originally developed by researchers at UTHealth Houston. The platform aims to deliver chemotherapy more precisely to tumour cells while reducing damage to healthy tissue.
From academic discovery to industry deal
The technology behind CrossBridge Bio was created through a collaboration between two laboratories at McGovern Medical School, part of UTHealth Houston. The work was led by Kyoji Tsuchikama and Zhiqiang An, both of whom were central in developing the platform.
CrossBridge Bio, founded in 2023, has focused on advancing ADCs that combine targeting precision with enhanced therapeutic potency. Its lead candidate, CBB-120, forms part of a broader pipeline built on this approach.
The technology behind CrossBridge Bio was created through a collaboration between two laboratories at McGovern Medical School, part of UTHealth Houston.
“This achievement reflects the extraordinary translational power of discovery at UTHealth Houston,” said Melina R. Kibbe, MD, President of UTHealth Houston. “What began as a fundamental scientific breakthrough now has the potential to transform cancer treatment and, over time, influence therapies for other diseases. It also underscores the power of partnerships between academic innovators and industry leaders to accelerate discoveries from the laboratory to patients worldwide.”
The acquisition also reinforces the institution’s role in driving new therapies from early-stage discovery through to clinical application.
A next generation of antibody-drug conjugates
Experts involved in the project describe the platform as a step forward in the evolution of ADCs, a class of therapies that link targeted antibodies with cancer-killing drugs.
“The technology created by Drs Tsuchikama and An represents a new generation of antibody drug-conjugate therapeutic intervention.” said Dr Bruce Butler, Vice President of Research and Technology at UTHealth Houston. ”The collected efforts of the UTHealth Houston team, Houston-based Crossbridge Bio leadership and the foresight of Eli Lilly will no doubt benefit cancer patients worldwide.”
By using a dual-payload approach, the platform is designed to deliver multiple therapeutic agents directly to cancer cells, potentially improving treatment effectiveness while limiting side effects.
Looking ahead under Eli Lilly
CrossBridge Bio’s leadership believes the acquisition will accelerate the development of its technology and expand its future clinical potential.
“We look forward to seeing how Lilly advances our new generation of dual-payload antibody-drug conjugates, including CBB-120, with the potential to meaningfully improve outcomes for patients with limited treatment options,” said Dr Michael Torres, Co-founder and Chief Executive of CrossBridge Bio.
We look forward to seeing how Lilly advances our new generation of dual-payload antibody-drug conjugates, including CBB-120
With the backing of Eli Lilly, the platform is expected to move closer to clinical testing, potentially giving new treatment opportunities for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.
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