Arbele, a biopharmaceutical company focused on targeting cadherin-17 (CDH17), has entered strategic collaborations in precision oncology using artificial intelligence (AI) to advance targeted immunotherapeutics of bispecific T-cell engagers (TCEs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). These partnerships, aimed at advancing the quantification and prognostic prediction of CDH17 expression in tumor tissue and the surrounding tumor immune microenvironment, are expected to accelerate the development of precise companion diagnostics and clinical trials for the treatment of advanced cancer.
 
Under a strategic alliance with BioAI Health, the companies aim to develop a prototype of an immunohistochemistry (IHC)-based quantification algorithm. Leveraging the PredictX platform to develop AI-based models using Arbele’s clinical trial data on colorectal cancer (CRC) biomarker screening, the companies aim to establish a gold standard companion diagnostic test for anti-CDH17 therapies for patient selection and prediction of clinical outcomes.
 
“BioAI’s machine learning capabilities offer a transformative approach to biomarker identification and patient stratification through predicting CDH17 expression and its spatial interaction with immune cells in tumor microenvironment,” said Dr John Luk, CEO of Arbele. “This collaboration is a critical step in guiding us the uses of the right treatment modalities and/or therapeutic regimens, thereby improving outcomes for patients with high mortality cancers.”
 
A second strategic alliance with Chime Biologics aims to accelerate chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC) process development of the novel designs of ADCs and TCEs. The partnership supports multiple pipelines of about 10 first-in-class and best-in-class immunotherapeutics, including monoclonal, bispecific/biparatopic and TriAx antibodies within the next three years. The collaboration aims to ensure Arbele continues to have at least 1-2 new molecular entities (NMEs) successfully filing for investigational new drug (IND) application and entering clinical studies in the next five years without any technical and supply-chain interruptions. The first deliverable will be anti-CDH17 ADC (ARB102A), for IND submission in early 2025.
 
“Chime Biologics has partnered Arbele for several years, with our advanced biologics development supporting key milestones such as previous IND filings for multinational clinical trials,” said Dr. Jimmy Wei, President of Chime Biologics. “We adopt the Quality-by-Design (QbD) strategy for process development to yield optimal outcomes cost-effectively, delivering innovative immunotherapeutics to enhance the global accessibility of these treatments.”