3SBio Inc (HKEX:1530), a biotechnology company in China, has signed a collaboration agreement with United States-based Verseau Therapeutics Incorporated for VTX-0811, a monoclonal antibody targeting PSGL-1, as the first licensed program focused on the development and commercialisation of novel monoclonal antibodies in the field of immuno-oncology for a broad range of cancers, it was reported yesterday.

The product targets PSGL-1, an adhesion molecule that is highly expressed on tumour-associated macrophages across most tumour types and reprograms macrophages to a pro-inflammatory state, activates T cells and attracts other immune cells to generate a coordinated and powerful antitumor response.

Dr Christine Bunt, Verseau chief executive officer, said, 'We are pleased to have achieved our first licensing milestone in our collaboration with 3SBio. Their decision to select VTX-0811 as the first program for development validates that PSGL-1 is an important and novel immuno-oncology target with the potential to expand the number of patients benefitting from immunotherapy. Our innovative partnership is enabling Verseau to advance our industry-leading pipeline of macrophage checkpoint modulators with first-in-class potential across a broad range of cancer therapies.'