Promatix Biosciences Secures Grant to Advance Cancer Therapy

Promatix Biosciences Ltd, a UK-based biotech company, has received a grant from Innovate UK's Biomedical Catalyst to support the advancement of its lead antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), PBS293-exatecan. This grant will fund crucial development stages including manufacturing scale-up and preclinical safety studies. Promatix's EGFR × EphA2 ADC is aimed at colorectal cancer (CRC) and will be expanded to treat oesophageal and non-small cell lung cancers.

The award supports the conjugation of PBS293 with an exatecan payload and comprehensive preclinical studies in CRC models. The development focuses on cis-bispecific “AND-gate” targeting, which links two specific antigens, EGFR and EphA2, to achieve tumour selectivity. This approach aims to maximize tumour cell killing while minimizing damage to normal cells.

Dr. Roy Pettipher and Dr. Michael Hunter praise the funding as a critical step in building a robust data package for further investment and development. Collaboration with UK-based research organisations will underpin this initiative.