Oblenio Bio

Oblenio Bio is a biotechnology company established in November 2024 as a joint venture between Aditum Bio, a US-based venture capital firm, and Leads Biolabs, a clinical-stage biotech company based in China. The formation was announced in conjunction with an exclusive option and license agreement to develop LBL-051, a first-in-class tri-specific T-cell engager antibody intended for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The company operates under Aditum Bio's incubator model, which aims to accelerate drug development by creating focused "spin-out" companies for promising in-licensed drug candidates. Oblenio Bio is the thirteenth such company launched by Aditum. Aditum Bio was co-founded by Joe Jimenez, former CEO of Novartis, and Mark Fishman, former President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. Aditum Bio provides the funding for Oblenio and collaborates with Leads Biolabs to advance LBL-051 into clinical studies. The core of Oblenio Bio's strategy is the development of LBL-051. This therapeutic antibody was developed using Leads Biolabs' LeadsBody™ Platform. LBL-051 is engineered to be a tri-specific T-cell engager that targets CD3 on T-cells, and both CD19 and BCMA on B-cells. This dual-targeting approach is designed to deplete a broad range of pathological B-cell populations implicated in antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases. The objective is to achieve a more complete "immune reset," potentially offering superior efficacy and durability compared to therapies that target only a single B-cell marker. Under the agreement, Leads Biolabs granted Oblenio an exclusive worldwide option to develop, manufacture, and commercialize LBL-051. In return, Leads Biolabs is eligible for up to $35 million in upfront and near-term payments, an additional $579 million in development, regulatory, and commercialization milestones, plus royalties on sales and an equity stake in Oblenio Bio.