Oxford BioTherapeutics (OBT) has announced two clinical milestones from its long-running oncology collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, including the first patient dosed in a phase 1 study of the investigational therapy BI 3820768.
DLL3 is expressed in approximately 80-85% of small cell lung cancers, making it a potential target for precision therapies aimed at improving outcomes in difficult-to-treat disease.
The announcement highlighted progress for obrixtamig, an investigational DLL3-targeting bispecific T-cell engager that has entered phase 3 development. The therapy is being studied in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer and extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma, both aggressive cancers associated with poor outcomes and limited treatment options.
Christian Rohlff, CEO of OBT, said: “Establishing another clinical-stage programme with BI 3820768 further validates the robustness of our OGAP-Verify discovery platform and the quality of the oncology targets it delivers. The fact that three of the four programmes optioned by Boehringer Ingelheim have now entered the clinic underscores the strength and productivity of this longstanding collaboration.
“In parallel, the advancement of obrixtamig into phase 3 highlights the long-term value-creation potential of our platform and our ability to translate novel targets into clinically advanced therapies for patients with high unmet need.”
The collaboration between the two companies, begun in 2013 and subsequently expanded in 2020 and 2023, has generated multiple development-stage programmes. This programme is the third to emerge from the companies’ collaboration to reach clinical development and a separate B7-H6-targeting T-cell engager, BI 765049, is also currently in clinical development for advanced solid tumours.
Vittoria Zinzalla, Global Head of Experimental Medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: “Our long-standing collaboration with Oxford BioTherapeutics demonstrates the value of linking complementary scientific expertise to transform outcomes for people living with difficult-to-treat cancers.
“By combining OBT’s strength in target discovery with our expertise in therapeutic antibody development, we connect insights across the R&D continuum, advancing differentiated treatment approaches while strengthening a more efficient and connected oncology ecosystem to create unprecedented impact.”