Biointron’s Q1 2026 Antibody Industry Trends report aims to explore the events and trends of the biopharmaceutical industry in January, February, and March. Gain exclusive insights into current trends such as:
- 3 novel antibody drugs approved for the first time in Q1 2026
- Top 20 antibody drug deals, including acquisitions, licensing agreements, and collaborations of up to US$8.5B
- Trends in early developability for antibody discovery
- Current research into multiple myeloma treatments
- A list of antibody drugs with soon approaching approval action dates to keep an eye out for in Q2 2026
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Selected Report Highlights
This quarter, three novel monoclonal antibody drugs have been approved by China.
- Libevitug (华优诺): First approved in China on January 23, 2026. It is a human mAb targeting the PreS1 domain of the large envelope protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV), indicated for chronic hepatitis D virus infection in adults with or without compensated cirrhosis.
- Retlirafusp Alfa (艾泽利): First approved in China on January 7, 2026. It is a bispecific fusion protein that targets PD-L1 and TGF-beta, indicated for fully validated PD-L1 positive (CPS≥1), locally advanced, unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
- Amdokitug (益赛拓): First approved in China on February 13, 2026. It is a recombinant humanized anti-IL17A IgG1κ mAb, indicated for adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) eligible for systemic therapy or phototherapy.
Q1 2026 saw many acquisitions, collaborations, and licensing agreements for bispecific and trispecific antibody drugs. Significant investment has been directed toward startups targeting a diverse range of therapeutic areas, such as central nervous system (CNS) disorders and inflammatory diseases.
Top 5 deals by volume:
- Feb 9: Innovent Biologics announces strategic collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company to develop new medicines globally in oncology and immunology, in potential $8.5B deal.
- Jan 12: AbbVie and RemeGen Biosciences announce licensing agreement to develop a novel PD-1/VEGF bispecific in potential $5.6B deal.
- Jan 5: Earendil Labs announces strategic collaboration with Sanofi to discover bispecific antibodies for autoimmune diseases in up to $2.56B deal.
- Jan 20: GSK to acquire RAPT Therapeutics for $2.2B, gaining anti-IgE antibody to protect against food allergy reactions.
- Mar 23: Gilead Sciences to acquire Ouro Medicines, gaining OM336 (gamgertamig), a clinical‑stage BCMAxCD3 T cell engager for autoimmune diseases, in potential $2.18B deal.
Early Developability in Discovery
Monoclonal antibody discovery has shifted toward larger, faster pipelines driven by automation and computational design. As a result, early developability assessment has become a critical layer in candidate selection, helping identify molecular risks related to stability, manufacturability, and formulation before they emerge in later development stages.
Developability refers to the set of molecular attributes that influence whether an antibody can be efficiently manufactured, formulated, and advanced through development. These properties, while not directly related to antigen binding, can strongly impact stability, product consistency, and downstream feasibility.
By combining multi-parameter profiling, high-throughput screening, and predictive tools, developability assessment enables earlier identification of risks, more efficient candidate prioritization, and improved alignment between discovery and downstream development.
Antibody Startup Launches/Companies to Watch
Date: March 20, 2026 | Seed Round: €17 million
Laigo Bio is advancing targeted protein degradation therapies. Their SureTACs™ platform, which uses bispecific antibodies to selectively eliminate disease-causing membrane proteins. By pairing target proteins with E3 ligases, the approach induces precise ubiquitination and lysosomal degradation, enabling dual-targeted removal of pathogenic proteins. They aim to develop therapies in oncology and autoimmune diseases.
Date: January 26, 2026 | Seed Round: $13 million
Fortitude Biomedicines launched to advance immune cell-targeting biologics and molecular glue payload-enabled ADCs for autoimmune diseases and cancer, combining immune cell-targeting biologics with a proprietary ADC platform. Its GLUE-DAC™ technology involves molecular glue-mediated protein degradation, aiming to overcome resistance, expand target scope, and improve therapeutic efficacy.
Date: January 8, 2026 | Series B: $125 million
Diagonal Therapeutics is developing a novel class of clustering antibodies designed to correct dysregulated receptor signaling at the root of genetic diseases. This approach induces receptor clustering to restore normal signaling pathways. Its lead program, DIAG723, targets impaired ALK1 signaling in conditions such as hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Date: January 8, 2026 | Series B: $107 million
EpiBiologics to advance pipeline of novel bispecific antibodies to selectively degrade extracellular and membrane-bound disease drivers in oncology and immunology. Their modular EpiTAC system enables precise degradation of pathogenic proteins directly at the disease site. They aim to deliver therapies across oncology and immunology, including mutation-agnostic strategies against targets such as EGFR.
Multiple Myeloma Treatments
Multiple myeloma is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the clonal proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow, leading to impaired hematopoiesis, bone destruction, and organ dysfunction. The disease is driven by genetic and microenvironmental factors that promote tumor cell survival, immune evasion, and resistance to therapy. Despite advances in treatment, multiple myeloma remains largely incurable, with most patients experiencing cycles of response and relapse that require sequential lines of therapy. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), there are an estimated 36,110 new cases of multiple myeloma in 2025.
The treatment of multiple myeloma has changed significantly over the past decade. Antibody-based modalities have contributed to improved clinical outcomes in pivotal trials, with multiple major pharma players (e.g., Johnson & Johnson, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer) actively competing in this space.
Antibodies to Watch in Q2 2026
- Bentracimab by SERB Pharmaceuticals: Fab molecule targeting ticagrelor for cardiovascular / hemostasis indications. Currently under US BLA Priority Review, with a PDUFA of Q1 of 2025.
- Veligrotug by Viridian Therapeutics, Inc.: mAb targeting IGF-1R for immune-mediated / inflammatory disorder indications. Currently under US, Europe, and Japan review, with a US PDUFA of June 30, 2026.
- Apitegromab by Scholar Rock: mAb targeting myostatin for muscular disorder indications. Currently under review in Europe and US, with an EMA decision expected mid-2026, and a PDUFA of September 2026.
- Atacicept by Vera Therapeutics, Inc.: Fusion protein targeting BAFF and APRIL for immune-mediated / inflammatory disorder indications. Currently under US BLA Priority Review, with a PDUFA of July 7, 2026.
- Garetosmab by Regeneron: mAb targeting activin A protein for genetic disorder indications. Currently under US BLA Priority Review, with a PDUFA of August 2026.
For more detailed lists and analyses, register now for a free download of the report!