BioMed X, an independent biomedical research institute based in Germany, has launched a new collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.—marking the start of a new initiative to explore innovative approaches in cancer treatment using multi-specific biologics.

The project, entitled “New Strategies for Targeting of Solid Tumors with Multi-Specific Biologics (MTT; Multi-Specific Targeting of Tumors),” will be hosted at the BioMed X Institute in Heidelberg.

The partnership aims to leverage the latest advances in multi-functional biologics, such as bi- and tri-specific antibodies, to develop new therapies that can engage multiple targets simultaneously within the tumor microenvironment. These next-generation therapies aim to overcome the limitations of conventional treatments by leveraging the synergistic effects of different antitumor signaling pathways and mechanisms by manipulating the proximity of multiple targets.

Christian Tidona, Founder and Managing Director of the BioMed X Institute, commented: “Partnering with Daiichi Sankyo on the MTT project allows us to expand our research in oncology, focusing on next-generation biologics that can truly make a difference for cancer patients. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to pioneering innovative therapeutic approaches.”

Call for Research Proposals

The BioMed X Institute and Daiichi Sankyo are inviting proposals from researchers around the world to participate in this project.

The MTT initiative focuses on the following key research challenges:

• Development of new therapeutic concepts for bi- or multi-specific biologics for new extracellular or intracellular target combinations which could be exploited for the treatment of solid tumors.
• Exploration, identification, and functional validation of promising new target combinations in vitro and in vivo.
• Development of an elegant in vitro assay system for functional assessment of novel target combinations.

Researchers are encouraged to submit proposals that demonstrate originality, especially those supported by preliminary experimental data or utilizing state-of-the-art machine learning tools. The call is open to projects targeting any solid tumor indication. However, classical immune cell engagers, combination therapies, and other modalities outside peptides or proteins (e.g., small molecules, nucleic acids, gene or cell therapies) are not within the scope of this project.

Researchers can submit a project proposal via the BioMed X Career Space before March 9, 2025.