AmMax Bio has licensed antibody-drug conjugate technology from Lonza to support development of a new treatment candidate for haematological cancers, with the company planning to submit an IND application in early 2027.

Under the non-exclusive agreement, AmMax will gain access to Lonza’s GlycoConnect, HydraSpace and SYNtecan linker-payload technologies for use in AMB-104, an investigational antibody-drug conjugate being developed for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

The companies said AMB-104 combines Lonza’s conjugation technologies with AmMax’s monoclonal antibody to deliver a tumour-targeted cytotoxic payload. The programme is intended to address resistance to venetoclax and azacitidine in AML by directly targeting monocytic AML cells.

As part of the agreement, Lonza will manufacture components related to the licensed technologies, while AmMax will retain responsibility for research, development, manufacturing and commercialisation of the antibody-drug conjugate. Financial terms were not disclosed, although Lonza is eligible for upfront, milestone and royalty payments.

The deal reflects continued investment in antibody-drug conjugates, which combine targeted antibodies with potent therapeutic payloads in an effort to improve precision and reduce off-target effects in cancer treatment.

Jan Vertommen, vice president, commercial development, advanced synthesis at Lonza, said: “The continued evolution of the ADC landscape underscores the demand for robust, differentiated technologies that unlock the differentiated therapeutic potential of novel ADCs.

“Our collaboration with AmMax reflects this market development, and we are pleased to support their program across the development phases.”

AmMax plans to advance AMB-104 into clinical development with an IND submission targeted for early 2027.

Larry Hsu, chairman and chief executive officer of AmMax, added: “This licensing agreement marks a significant milestone in our efforts to address critical unmet needs in oncology.

“We are excited to leverage Lonza’s validated conjugation and linker-payload technologies with our monoclonal antibody to optimize the therapeutic potential of AMB-104. We look forward to advancing AMB-104 through clinical trials and benefit patients with significant unmet medical needs.”