Antengene and UCB Sign Global Licence Agreement for ATG-201 in Autoimmune Diseases
Wednesday, March 04, 2026
Antengene Corporation Limited and UCB have entered into a global licence agreement for ATG-201, a CD19/CD3 bispecific T-cell engager (TCE) for autoimmune diseases.
Under the agreement, UCB has received a worldwide exclusive licence to further develop, manufacture and commercialise ATG-201, along with access to the related manufacturing technology.
T-cell engagers targeting B-cell depletion are designed to selectively eliminate B cells, which are involved in autoimmune disorders and certain haematological cancers. ATG-201 is a CD19-targeting bispecific TCE that uses steric hindrance masking technology. It is designed to eliminate CD19-expressing B cells through interaction with both T cells and B cells via CD3 and CD19. This approach aims to harness the body’s immune system to provide targeted and potent treatment for B cell-driven diseases.
Antengene plans to submit clinical trial applications for ATG-201 in China and Australia in the first quarter of 2026. The company will conduct first-in-human Phase 1 studies in both markets before transferring further clinical and development activities to UCB.
The agreement also includes access to Antengene’s AnTenGager™ platform, which applies steric masking to the CD3 binding arm of the TCE. This design allows the molecule to remain masked until it binds to the target antigen, supporting potent activity with improved tolerability. The platform aims to reduce the risk of cytokine release syndrome and limit T-cell exhaustion through a proprietary CD3 binding approach.
In return for the licence rights, Antengene will receive USD 80 million in upfront and near-term milestone payments. This includes an initial upfront payment of USD 60 million and up to USD 20 million in additional near-term milestone payments subject to certain conditions. The company is also eligible to receive development and commercial milestone payments of more than USD 1.1 billion, as well as tiered royalties on future net sales. Further financial terms were not disclosed.
Source: prnewswire.com
