On March 10, 2021, I-Mab (Nasdaq: IMAB) and Affinity Biopharma, a Shanghai-based biotech company, have reached a collaborative agreement allowing I-Mab access to cutting edge technology platforms to create next generation of novel and highly differentiated drug candidates, including masked antibodies for targeted tumor-site activation. “The discovery initiative is part of our long-term strategy to continue to drive innovation and scientific leadership in immuno-oncology,” said Dr. Taylor Guo, Chief Scientific Officer, I-Mab. “We remain laser focused on delivering against key clinical milestones as we look to strengthen our pipeline."

“We are excited at the prospect of working together with I-Mab to create a set of novel masked antibodies designed for specific tumor-site activation. This collaboration leverages I-Mab’s expertise and existing antibody sequences in immuno-oncology and our proprietary antibody engineering platform to synergize our discovery and development efforts for innovation,” said Dr. Cheng Liu, CEO of Affinity.

About I-Mab

I-Mab (Nasdaq: IMAB) is an innovation-driven global biotech company focusing on discovery, development and soon commercialization of novel and highly differentiated biologics in immuno-oncology therapeutic area. The Company's mission is to bring transformational medicines to patients around the world through drug innovation. I-Mab's globally competitive pipeline of more than 15 clinical and pre-clinical stage drug candidates is driven by its internal R&D capability and global licensing partnerships, based on the Company's unique Fast-to-Proof-of-Concept and Fast-to-Market pipeline development strategies. The Company is now rapidly progressing from a clinical stage biotech company to a fully integrated global biopharmaceutical company with cutting-edge global R&D capabilities, a world-class GMP manufacturing facility and commercialization capability. I-Mab has established its global footprint in Shanghai (headquarters), Beijing, Hangzhou and Hong Kong in China, and Maryland and San Diego in the United States. 

About Affinity Bipharma

Shanghai Affinity Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. focuses on the development of a Tumor MicroEnvironment Activated (TMEA) platform^®. Based on this proprietary TMEA platform^®, Affinity focuses on development of TMEA drugs to solve the on-target toxicity of anti-tumor drugs.

Affinity’s TMEA platform^® can be broadly applied to therapeutic small molecules, proteins and antibodies, it allows selective unleash of the drug in the tumor microenvironment locally, reduces “on target, off tumor toxicity” and improves therapeutic index.