I-Mab Acquires Bridge Health to Bolster CLDN18.2 Bispecific Program

I-Mab, a Maryland-based biotech company, has announced the acquisition of Bridge Health for $3 million upfront, solidifying its strategic pivot towards the development of givastomig, a CLDN18.2x4-1BB bispecific antibody. This move comes as part of I-Mab's efforts to strengthen its position in the competitive landscape of CLDN18.2-directed therapies for gastric cancers and other solid tumors.

Acquisition Details and Strategic Implications

The acquisition deal involves an initial payment of $1.8 million, followed by noncontingent quarterly payments totaling $1.2 million. Bridge Health shareholders may also receive up to $3.9 million in potential development and regulatory milestones. The primary asset gained through this purchase is the CLDN18.2 parental antibody, which I-Mab considers crucial to givastomig's potential success.

I-Mab CEO Sean Fu, Ph.D., emphasized the strategic importance of the acquisition, stating, "With this transaction, I-Mab has further enriched the potential value of givastomig by strengthening upstream intellectual property rights, reducing future milestone payments, and unencumbering givastomig of future royalties."

Givastomig's Potential and Clinical Progress

Givastomig is being developed as a potential best-in-class bispecific antibody for the treatment of Claudin 18.2-positive cancers. The therapy's CLDN18.2 parental antibody, now fully owned by I-Mab, has demonstrated strong binding affinity to cell lines expressing high, medium, and even low levels of CLDN18.2. This characteristic is believed to be a key differentiator for givastomig in the treatment landscape.

Recent clinical data has bolstered confidence in givastomig's potential. In a phase 1b trial focusing on gastric cancers, the drug achieved an 83% objective response rate at certain doses. Dr. Fu noted that enrollment in the ongoing phase 2 trial is proceeding faster than expected, with top-line results now anticipated in the first quarter of 2026.

I-Mab's Strategic Shift and Partnership

This acquisition marks a significant step in I-Mab's strategic pivot, which began earlier this year when the company announced a pause in its work on the Sanofi-partnered anti-CD73 antibody uliledlimab. The shift resulted in a 27% reduction in I-Mab's workforce as the company realigned its focus on givastomig.

Givastomig is being jointly developed through a global partnership with ABL Bio, with I-Mab leading the effort and sharing worldwide rights equally, excluding greater China and South Korea. The company is positioning givastomig as a candidate that can potentially improve upon the efficacy of existing treatments like Astellas' Vyloy while offering a more tolerable alternative to antibody-drug conjugates.