QX-004N

Roche has signed a global license deal with Qyuns Therapeutics for a preclinical respiratory antibody that targets two key inflammatory proteins, according to a Hong Kong Stock Exchange filing this week. The agreement gives Roche exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise QX031N, with Qyuns set to receive $75 million upfront and up to $995 million in potential milestones, plus tiered royalties.QX031N is a long-acting bispecific antibody designed to block TSLP and IL-33, alarmins released when airways are irritated by allergens, viruses or pollutants. By simultaneously dampening these immune triggers, Qyuns believes QX031N could control the chronic inflammation that underpins chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. The biotech has indicated it plans to submit IND applications for QX031N in China and the US by late 2025.Meanwhile, the deal gives Roche another shot in respiratory biologics after astegolimab, its anti-ST2 antibody, delivered uneven results across two pivotal COPD studies in July – meeting its main goal in a mid-stage trial, but falling short in a Phase III programme.Qyuns' asset is was developed based on its Rabbit Antibody Development Platform, which "adopt[s] an advanced B cell cloning technology that can greatly increase the access to a wider range of antigen-specific B cells and achieve high-throughput screening to isolate rare antigen-specific B cells among a high volume of such cells," according to its website. The platform "not only facilitates the selection of rabbit mAbs with strong bioactivity," Qyuns says, but also supports humanisation processes, "leading to lower risk of immunogenicity."The company partnered with Hansoh Pharmaceutical in 2024 on another antibody programme, QX004N, targeting IL-23p19 for psoriasis and Crohn's disease.