ABL Bio announced that it signed a technology transfer agreement with UK-based pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on April 5 for its proprietary blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration platform, Grabody-B.

The total value of the deal is approximately $2.9 billion, with GSK securing exclusive rights to apply the platform to multiple novel targets.

The deal is valued at approximately $2.9 billion, granting GSK exclusive global rights to apply the platform to multiple novel targets. Under the agreement, GSK can develop and commercialize a range of therapeutic candidates—including antibodies, siRNA (small interfering RNA), and ASO (antisense oligonucleotides)—using the Grabody-B platform.

As part of the contract terms, ABL Bio will receive $51.8 million in upfront payment and an additional $52 million in near-term milestone payments. The company is eligible to receive up to $2.8 billion in milestone payments tied to clinical development, regulatory approvals, and commercialization. The agreement also includes tiered royalties based on net sales.

Grabody-B enhances BBB permeability by targeting the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), making it a key technology for treating neurodegenerative diseases. ABL Bio emphasized that BBB shuttle technologies are now a necessity in this field and positioned the agreement as a strategic partnership aligned with global trends.

An IR event will be held on April 9 to detail the implications of the agreement and present ABL Bio’s 2025 growth strategy. CEO Sang Hoon Lee will outline the roadmap centered on four growth pillars: First-in-class candidate ABL001, BBB shuttle platform Grabody-B, Immuno-oncology platform Grabody-T, and Bispecific antibody-based ADCs.

CEO Lee stated, “This deal not only demonstrates ABL Bio’s leadership in the BBB shuttle market but also reflects our commitment to transforming the development of neurodegenerative disease treatments through strategic partnerships with global pharma such as GSK.” He added, “It marks the beginning of Grabody-B’s full-scale commercialization and expansion into new modalities.”