BOAN BIOTECH (06955) has announced that its independently developed innovative antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting CD228, BA1302, has completed the monotherapy dose-escalation phase (Phase Ia) of its China Phase I clinical study.

Study results indicate that BA1302 demonstrated favorable anti-tumor activity in patients with various advanced solid tumors who had progressed after multiple lines of therapy, with a good overall safety and tolerability profile. To the company's knowledge, BA1302 is currently the only CD228-targeting ADC globally in clinical development.

The CD228 target protein is highly expressed in multiple solid tumors, including melanoma, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, squamous non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, mesothelioma, colon cancer, and pancreatic cancer, while exhibiting low expression in normal tissues, making it an ideal ADC target. In terms of molecular design, BA1302 uses a cleavable hydrophilic linker to conjugate the cytotoxic agent MMAE to a CD228 monoclonal antibody via hinge-region cysteine linkages. This allows the antibody to precisely guide the toxin to the tumor site, exerting anti-tumor effects while reducing toxicity and broadening the therapeutic window.

The company believes that the preliminary efficacy and safety results from this Phase Ia study are encouraging, further strengthening confidence in the value of the CD228 target and the development prospects of BA1302. The drug's monotherapy activity and combination development potential across multiple solid tumors may pave a new path for precision oncology. BOAN BIOTECH will accelerate the global development of BA1302, exploring its clinical application value in additional indications.