dualitas Emerges with $65M to pioneer Next-Generation bispecific Antibodies for Autoimmune & Allergic Diseases
Cambridge, MA – Dualitas, a biotech startup founded on groundbreaking bispecific antibody technology, has secured $65 million in a Series A financing round led by Versant Ventures and Qiming Venture Partners USA. This investment fuels the company’s mission to revolutionize treatment paradigms for autoimmune and allergic diseases, areas where traditional monoclonal antibodies often fall short. The funding, which also includes participation from SV Health Investors, Chugai Venture Fund, Eli Lilly & Co., and Alexandria Venture Investments, will propel Dualitas’s lead program towards clinical trials within the next 18-24 months.
Beyond Monoclonals: The Promise of bispecificity
For decades, monoclonal antibodies have been a cornerstone of modern medicine. However, their limitations in complex diseases like autoimmune disorders are increasingly apparent. Dualitas is tackling this challenge head-on by focusing on bispecific antibodies – engineered proteins capable of binding to two different targets together. This dual-targeting approach unlocks therapeutic potential beyond the reach of single-target therapies.
“We’re seeing activity that you can’t find from just individual monoclonal antibodies, really proving out the premise that bispecifics are able to open up new activities and new spaces and perhaps greater benefit for patients that single antibodies themselves can’t do,” explains Forbes Huang, Dualitas’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Business Officer. Huang brings a wealth of experience from roles at Gyroscope Therapeutics and Iveric Bio, complementing the deep scientific expertise of co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Greg Lazar, a pioneer in bispecific antibody technology with a distinguished career at Genentech.
DualScreen: Unlocking Hidden Therapeutic Potential Through Proximity Biology
What sets Dualitas apart isn’t simply that they’re developing bispecifics, but how they’re discovering them. The company’s proprietary platform, DualScreen, is a game-changer in the field. Unlike traditional antibody finding methods, DualScreen systematically screens the entire “surfaceome” – the complete collection of proteins on a cell’s surface – to identify synergistic target combinations.
This approach leverages the power of proximity biology, a concept already proven effective in oncology with T-cell engagers that bring immune cells and cancer cells into close proximity for targeted destruction. Dualitas extends this principle to autoimmune and allergic diseases,seeking to uncover previously unknown therapeutic effects that emerge when two targets on the same cell are brought together by a bispecific antibody.
“We’re big supporters of bispecifics in general, but the ones we’re after are unique and rely upon that proximity biology to really increase potency, depth of response, [and] extend the pharmacology,” states Rich Murray, interim CEO and Board Member of Dualitas. “In our lead programs, we see that evidence in preclinical models.”
Targeting Unmet Needs: Asthma and Rheumatoid Arthritis as Initial Focus
Dualitas is initially focusing on two lead programs:
* DTX-103: A bispecific antibody targeting allergic diseases, with an initial focus on asthma.
* DTX-102: A potential treatment for autoimmune diseases, beginning with rheumatoid arthritis.
While specific targets remain confidential, the company reports “very compelling pharmacology” in preclinical studies, benchmarking their results against established immunology therapies.
Strategic Partnerships and a Clear Path to Clinical Development
Dualitas plans a dual-track strategy: internally developing one lead program while seeking partnerships for the other. Potential collaborations could range from traditional licensing agreements to screening services, where Dualitas identifies promising drug candidates for larger pharmaceutical companies to advance.
The company’s clinical development strategy will be guided by a clear focus on differentiation from standard of care. Demonstrating a significant advantage over existing treatments will be paramount in securing regulatory approval and ultimately improving patient outcomes.
A Name Rooted in Scientific Principle
The company’s name, Dualitas (pronounced “doo-AHL-ee-tahs”), is derived from the Latin word for duality, reflecting the core principle behind their technology. “As we think about bispecifics and really needing two aspects to create a medicine that now has the potential to be greater than the sum of the parts, that’s how we aligned on the name dualitas,” Huang explains. (The company playfully acknowledges the frequent mispronunciation,frequently enough sounding like singer Dua Lipa!)
Looking Ahead: A New era in Autoimmune and Allergic Disease Treatment
dualitas represents a significant advancement in the field of bispecific antibody development. by combining a novel discovery platform with a deep understanding of proximity biology,
