Key Highlights:
- $1.9 Billion Deal: AbbVie secures global rights to IGI’s AI-designed trispecific antibody ISB 2001, targeting relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
- Next-Gen Multispecifics: Built on IGI’s proprietary BEAT® platform, ISB 2001 engages CD38, BCMA, and CD3 simultaneously to overcome treatment resistance.
- Breakthrough Potential: Phase 1 results show a 79% overall response rate in heavily pretreated patients, with FDA Fast Track designation secured.
AbbVie Accelerates into AI-Powered Immuno-Oncology
AbbVie has entered a global licensing agreement worth up to $1.925 billion with IGI Therapeutics SA, a subsidiary of Ichnos Glenmark Innovation (IGI), gaining exclusive rights to develop and commercialize ISB 2001—a first-in-class trispecific T-cell engager. The investigational therapy, developed on IGI’s BEAT® platform, is currently in Phase 1 for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. This move signals AbbVie’s deeper investment into AI-enabled multispecifics designed to deliver more durable responses in cancers that resist standard treatments.
ISB 2001: A Trispecific Leap in Myeloma Drug Design
ISB 2001 targets CD38 and BCMA on myeloma cells and CD3 on T cells. Unlike traditional bispecific antibodies, this trispecific engages three distinct targets, aiming to increase efficacy even in patients with low antigen expression. Early results presented at ASCO 2025 showed an overall response rate of 79% and a 30% complete/stringent response rate at doses ≥50 µg/kg, in patients who had exhausted multiple prior lines of therapy. Its engineering, powered by the BEAT® platform, enhances binding strength and reduces immunogenicity, making it a standout in the immune engager class.
BEAT® Platform Redefines Multispecific Antibody Engineering
IGI’s BEAT® (Bispecific Engagement by Antibodies based on the TCR) platform is designed to overcome longstanding production and functionality limitations of bispecifics. Through proprietary common light chain libraries and precise heavy chain pairing, BEAT® enables scalable manufacturing of highly stable multispecifics. This includes trispecifics like ISB 2001, which offer new therapeutic formats with optimized immune engagement and reduced toxicity—hallmarks needed in future cancer therapeutics.
IGI’s AI-Enabled Pipeline Gains Industry Validation
This milestone deal reinforces IGI’s position as a rising biotech innovator leveraging AI and protein engineering for next-gen biologics. With ISB 2001 as its lead asset, IGI is doubling down on a robust pipeline of multispecifics aimed at hard-to-treat cancers and autoimmune disorders. The AbbVie partnership not only accelerates ISB 2001’s path to market but also validates the promise of IGI’s BEAT® technology in a competitive field racing to redefine cancer care with smarter, AI-enhanced modalities.
About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and delivering innovative medicines that address serious health challenges today while solving the medical needs of tomorrow. With a strong presence in immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care, AbbVie combines advanced science with deep clinical expertise to improve the lives of people worldwide. Through strategic collaborations and a robust R&D pipeline, AbbVie is committed to developing transformative therapies that raise standards of care and bring hope to patients facing difficult-to-treat conditions. Learn more at www.abbvie.com.
About IGI (Ichnos Glenmark Innovation, Inc.)
IGI is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of next-generation multispecific biologics for oncology and autoimmune diseases. Headquartered in New York, IGI combines cutting-edge science with its proprietary BEAT® (Bispecific Engagement by Antibodies based on the TCR) platform to engineer novel multispecific antibodies, including trispecific immune cell engagers. With a robust pipeline targeting complex cancers and a mission to transform patient outcomes, IGI is redefining what’s possible in precision immunotherapy. For more information, visit www.IGInnovate.com.
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