BITT

About BITT

Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics (BITT) is a clinical-stage biotechnology firm established in 2011 by Russell LaMontagne and Denise Faustman. The company concentrates on creating a novel class of antagonist antibodies that target the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily receptors. These therapies have potential applications across oncology, inflammation, autoimmunity, and infectious diseases. BITT's business model is centered on the discovery and clinical development of these antibody candidates, funded through a combination of venture capital and strategic partnerships.

The company's proprietary DOMab platform is central to its operations, enabling the creation of unique antibodies designed to modulate cellular signaling pathways. This technology allows for the development of antibodies that can either cause cell death in proliferative pathways, relevant for cancer, or permit cell growth in death receptor pathways, which is applicable to autoimmune diseases. A key milestone was achieved in March 2021 when BITT secured $10 million in a Series A financing round, with investors including BeiGene, Ltd., Hatteras Venture Partners, and EGP Investments. This capital is being used to advance the clinical development of its lead and pipeline candidates.

BITT's lead product candidate is BIR2101, a monoclonal antibody designed to target tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2). TNFR2 is highly expressed in the tumor microenvironment and is implicated in resistance to checkpoint blockade cancer therapies. In August 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved BITT's Investigational New Drug (IND) application for a Phase I clinical trial of BITT2101 in patients with certain types of Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Beyond its lead candidate, the company is also developing other antagonist antibodies, including a CD40 antagonist for inflammation and a CD30 antagonist for oncology. The company has also entered into a sponsored research and exclusivity agreement with the McQuade Center for Strategic Research and Development (MSRD), part of the Otsuka pharmaceutical family, to advance the preclinical development of its CD40 antagonist.