Biotechnology company āshibio has entered an exclusive licencing agreement with Mereo BioPharma for the monoclonal antibody, vantictumab, to treat a rare bone disorder.

The agreement aims to facilitate antibody development for the autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type 2 (ADO2) bone condition that currently lacks approved therapies.

āshibio will oversee clinical development of vantictumab globally for both adult and paediatric patients.

Mereo has granted exclusive rights to āshibio for the development and commercialisation in the US and other regions outside of Europe, where Mereo retains commercial rights.

ADO2, also referred to as Albers-Schönberg disease, is a genetic disorder characterised by reduced osteoclast function, leading to dense and brittle bones.

It is linked to mutations in the chloride channel 7 (CLCN7) gene, with an incidence rate of one in 20,000 births.

Āshibio CEO Pankaj Bhargava stated: “People living with autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type 2 face a lifetime of bone-related complications resulting in significant morbidity, multiple surgical procedures, chronic pain and impaired quality of life – yet patients have no approved therapy to address the disease.

“Bringing vantictumab into our pipeline reflects our commitment to advancing therapies for rare skeletal conditions and improving the lives of those affected by serious bone disorders.”

Vantictumab functions by selectively binding to specific frizzled (Fzd) receptors and inhibiting Wnt (wingless-related integration) signalling pathways.

Initially developed for cancer treatment, it has undergone clinical trials in oncology showing a favourable safety and pharmacokinetic profile.

Previous studies have generated biomarker data that support the efficacy of vantictumab on osteoclast function, which aids in reducing risks associated with the clinical programme and allows āshibio to expedite the advancement of vantictumab into clinical trials for ADO2.