CrossBridge Bio has secured $10 million in seed financing, led by TMC Venture Fund and CE-Ventures, to advance its next-generation dual-payload antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for targeted cancer therapy. This funding will accelerate development of CBB-120, a promising TROP-2 ADC for solid tumors, and support CrossBridge Bio’s groundbreaking platform that enhances stability and payload synergy. With experienced investors and strategic board appointments, CrossBridge Bio is set to redefine cancer treatment with precision-targeted therapies.

CrossBridge Bio is pioneering the next generation of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with a focus on stability and multi-payload design. Leveraging cutting-edge technology from UTHealth Houston, the company is developing dual-payload ADCs that improve targeting and minimize side effects, advancing treatments for cancers with unmet needs. With support from CPRIT and industry leaders, CrossBridge Bio aims to deliver breakthrough cancer therapies, beginning with its lead candidate, CBB-120, for TROP-2-positive tumors.

Valine–citrulline is a protease-cleavable linker commonly used in many drug delivery systems, including antibody–drug conjugates (ADC) for cancer therapy. However, its suboptimal in vivo stability can cause various adverse effects such as neutropenia and hepato- toxicity, leading to dose delays or treatment discontinuation. Here, we report that glutamic acid–glycine–citrulline (EGCit) linkers have the potential to solve this clinical issue without compromising the ability of traceless drug release and ADC therapeutic efficacy.

Most therapies rarely provide clinically meaningful improvements in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment. Anami et al. report that intravenous administration of homogeneous antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) efficiently delivers payloads to brain tumors, leading to substantially improved tumor growth suppression. Their findings provide rational ADC design for effectively treating intractable brain tumors, including GBM.

Breast tumors generally consist of a diverse population of cells with varying gene expression profiles. Breast tumor heterogeneity is a major factor contributing to drug resistance, recurrence, and metastasis after chemotherapy. Our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of the dual-drug ADC format for treating refractory breast cancer and perhaps other cancers.