ATB Therapeutics

About ATB Therapeutics

ATB Therapeutics, a Belgian biopharmaceutical firm established in 2017, is focused on creating a new class of antibody-based therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company was co-founded by Bertrand Magy, who now serves as CEO, and Max Houry, who is the COO. Magy holds a PhD in bioengineering and a management degree, leveraging his background as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Louvain to guide the company's strategy. Houry has a background in molecular biology and business development for biotech firms.

The company's core asset is its proprietary ATBioFarm™ technology, a plant-based manufacturing platform used to produce its 'atbody' therapeutics. This technology facilitates the scalable, single-step production of biologics using plants, which avoids common challenges associated with traditional chemical conjugation and other expression systems. The process involves inserting the atbody's genetic material into a vector, which is then transferred into plants that produce the desired protein for harvesting. This approach is designed to shorten development timelines compared to standard mammalian and bacterial expression systems.

Atbodies are bifunctional antibodies that combine multiple domains for targeting and killing diseased cells, including enzymatic functionalities. This composition aims to enhance potency, stability, and targeted exposure, potentially improving the therapeutic window and effectiveness compared to conventional antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The novel mechanism of action is intended to overcome cancer cell resistance, offering new options for hard-to-treat hematological malignancies and solid tumors. The company's business model centers on developing a proprietary pipeline of atbody therapeutics, with an initial focus on B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases. ATB Therapeutics also plans to pursue strategic partnerships with other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to expand the technology's commercial potential.

In a significant milestone, ATB Therapeutics secured €54 million in a Series A financing round in November 2024. The funding was co-led by EQT Life Sciences and MRL Ventures Fund, with participation from several other institutional investors. These funds are earmarked to advance the clinical development of its therapeutic pipeline, expand its team and operations, and enhance the ATBioFarm platform. The company operates R&D facilities in Marche-en-Famenne and Ghent, where it is also establishing a pilot manufacturing facility.