Synaffix B.V., a Lonza company, and Sidewinder Therapeutics have entered into a multi-target licensing agreement aimed at developing first-in-class bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapies for the treatment of solid tumors. The collaboration brings together complementary technologies designed to improve the precision, safety, and effectiveness of ADC-based cancer treatments.
Synaffix, which focuses on commercializing clinical-stage ADC platform technologies with the goal of achieving a best-in-class therapeutic index, will provide Sidewinder with access to Lonza’s validated site-specific ADC technology suite. This includes GlycoConnect® antibody conjugation technology, HydraSpace® polar spacer technology, and a toxSYN® linker-payload platform. These technologies are intended to enable more controlled drug attachment, improved stability, and optimized delivery of cytotoxic payloads to cancer cells.
Sidewinder Therapeutics is developing a pipeline of precision bispecific antibodies designed to enhance tumor-cell specificity and internalization. By combining its bispecific antibody approach with Synaffix’s linker-payload and conjugation technologies, the companies aim to create bispecific ADCs that can more effectively target tumor-specific receptor complexes while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues. This strategy is intended to address one of the key challenges in ADC development: balancing potency against tolerability.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lonza is eligible to receive upfront payments as well as additional clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments tied to the progress of the partnered programs. Lonza will also receive royalties on net sales of any products that result from the collaboration. Manufacturing responsibilities will be divided between the parties, with Lonza handling components related to its proprietary technologies and Sidewinder overseeing research, development, manufacturing, and eventual commercialization of the ADC candidates.
Peter van de Sande, Head of Synaffix at Lonza, said the partnership unites two advanced technology platforms to enhance the therapeutic index of bispecific ADCs. He emphasized that reducing off-target effects while maximizing tumor targeting is critical to improving patient outcomes and expressed confidence that Synaffix’s technologies would help unlock the full potential of Sidewinder’s pipeline.
Eric Murphy, PhD, co-founder and chief executive officer of Sidewinder Therapeutics, described the agreement as timely, noting rapid innovation in the ADC field. He said recent technological breakthroughs are enabling a new generation of bispecific ADCs with improved design and performance. Murphy added that combining Sidewinder’s tumor-specific bispecific antibodies with Synaffix’s clinically validated site-specific conjugation and linker-payload technologies creates a strong synergy with the potential to significantly benefit patients.
The collaboration reflects broader momentum in the oncology sector toward more targeted and tolerable cancer therapies. As interest in bispecific ADCs continues to grow, the partnership positions both companies to contribute to the next wave of innovation in solid tumor treatment, with the shared goal of delivering more effective and safer therapies for people living with cancer.