On September 24, 2026 Amberstone Biosciences, Inc., a preclinical-stage oncology company developing pH-gated, tumor-activated T-cell engagers (TCEs), reported a collaboration and license agreement with Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc., a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company (2696.HK). Under the agreement, Amberstone will work with Henlius to apply its proprietary T-MATE (Tumor Microenvironment Activated ThErapeutics) platform technology to generate preclinical candidates against up to two targets selected by Henlius. Henlius will lead subsequent research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization activities worldwide.
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T-cell engagers redirect a patient’s T cells to kill cancer cells, but their development in solid tumors has been constrained by cytokine release syndrome and on-target, off-tumor toxicity. T-MATE is designed to address these limitations through reversible pH gating, reducing T-cell activation in the circulation and healthy tissues while retaining therapeutic activity across a broad range of pH conditions found in solid tumors. Preclinical studies have shown potent tumor-cell killing under tumor-like pH conditions with markedly reduced activity at physiological pH. Amberstone’s self-developed lead T-MATE TCE asset is expected to enter clinical development in the first half of 2027.
Under the agreement, Amberstone will receive an upfront payment and research funding, and is eligible to receive up to US$440 million in potential development, regulatory, and sales milestones for each target, plus tiered royalties on net sales.
(Press release, Amberstone Biosciences, SEP 24, 2026, View Source [SID1234671059])