Lonza, a global leader in contract development and manufacturing, has announced an exclusive single-target licensing agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) for its proprietary SYNtecan™ linker-payload platform*. This agreement marks a significant milestone in advancing next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapeutics for oncology and other serious diseases.
Under the terms of this agreement, BMS will gain exclusive rights to utilize the SYNtecan™ platform to develop, manufacture, and commercialize an ADC targeting an undisclosed antigen. In addition to SYNtecan™, the agreement grants BMS access to GlycoConnect® and HydraSpace® technologies, further enhancing the potential therapeutic index and stability of the resulting ADCs. Lonza will receive upfront and potential milestone payments, as well as royalties on net sales from BMS.
SYNtecan™ Platform: Advancing ADC Therapeutics
SYNtecan™, originally developed by Lonza’s Synaffix, which is part of the company’s Advanced Synthesis business platform, is a proprietary ADC linker-payload platform centered on topoisomerase-1 (Topo-1) inhibitors, with SYNtecan E™ (camptothecin derivative exatecan-based) as its lead payload. Exatecan, a potent camptothecin derivative, exhibits high cytotoxicity, increased cell permeability, and a demonstrated bystander effect, making it a compelling payload for ADC development.
Key features of the SYNtecan™ platform
- Superior Plasma Stability: SYNtecan E™ linker-payloads are engineered for high stability in plasma, minimizing premature payload release and off-target toxicity.
- Enhanced Efficacy: Preclinical studies have shown that SYNtecan E™-based ADCs can achieve complete tumor regression in mouse xenograft models after a single dose.
- Flexible Drug-to-Antibody Ratios: The platform supports tailored DARs (1, 2, or 4) to optimize the therapeutic index for different indications.
- Resistance Mitigation: SYNtecan E™ is not a substrate for MDR1, enabling efficacy even in multidrug-resistant tumor models.
- Integration with Site-Specific Conjugation: Paired with GlycoConnect® and HydraSpace®, the platform allows for homogeneous ADC production and expanded therapeutic indices.
GlycoConnect® & HydraSpace®
Lonza’s GlycoConnect® technology leverages native antibody glycans to generate stable, site-specific ADCs through enzymatic remodeling and metal-free click chemistry [1], while HydraSpace® introduces a highly polar spacer; both have been proven to improve ADC efficacy and safety. These technologies have previously been licensed by other industry leaders, including Emergence Therapeutics (a German biotechnology startup focused on antibody-drug conjugates, which was acquired in 2023 by Eli Lilly & Co.) and NEOK Bio.
Investigational agents
Today, several investigational ADCs are incorporating Lonza’s technology platform, with recent developments and research reported at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), held April 17 – 22, 2026, in San Diego, CA. These investigational agents include**:
- SOT109, an ADC candidate being developed by Sotio Biotech, targets cadherin-17 (CDH17), a single-pass transmembrane glycoprotein involved in calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion and epithelial homeostasis regulation that is homogeneously overexpressed in more than 90% of colorectal cancers (CRC) and is abundantly expressed in other gastrointestinal tumors, including gastric, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers. SOT109 utilizes Lonza’s proprietary GlycoConnect® HydraSpace® clinical-stage conjugation platform, incorporating the SYNtecan E™ linker-payload system with an exatecan payload drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of 4. Lonza’s conjugation technology, which replaces the existing antibody glycan with a therapeutic payload, combined with an optimized linker, enables wide therapeutic efficacy and tolerability.[2]
- MGC026, an ADC being developed by MacroGenics, which is site-specifically conjugated at asparagine 297 of the heavy chain through enzymatic glycan remodeling and metal-free click chemistry, carrying the TOPI inhibitor/exatecan payload SYNtecan E™. The investigational agent has been shown to have potent antitumor activity in B7-H3+ patient-derived xenograft models of prostate cancer, and is currently undergoing a phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors, including CRPC (NCT06242470)[3]
- MGC028 is a first-in-class ADC that targets ADAM9, a member of the ADAM family of multifunctional type 1 transmembrane proteins that play a role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression, and is overexpressed in multiple solid tumors. MGC028 incorporates SYNtecan E™, a cleavable linker payload based on exatecan, a clinically validated and potent camptothecin that readily combines with Lonza’s HydraSpace™ technology. The investigational agent is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 dose escalation study (NCT06723236) in patients with advanced solid tumors. Initial phase 1 clinical data for MGC028 are expected to be available in the second half of 2026.[4]
- MGC030 is a first-in-class preclinical ADC that targets an undisclosed antigen expressed across several solid tumors. The investigational ADC utilizes Lonza’s technologies, including GlycoConnect® (site-specific conjugation) and HydraSpace® (polar spacer) technologies, along with a TOP1i (topoisomerase 1 inhibitor) linker-payload. An Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MGC030 is planned for the third quarter of 2026.
- EO-1022, a HER3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) being developed by Elevation Oncology, is currently in preclinical development. Overexpression of HER3 in solid tumors is associated with poor prognosis. The investigational ADC, comprising the highly selective and clinically validated HER3 antibody, seribantumab, uses Lonza’s GlycoConnect® for site-specific conjugation and HydraSpace® as a polar spacer, resulting in a homogeneous drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of 4, aiming to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity. The company is preparing to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA in 2026.[5]
- NEOK001 (formerly known as ABL206) is a first-in-class, dual-targeting (2+2) bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) being developed designed by Neok Bio, an ABL Bio spinout focused on developing bispecific ADCs for cancers with high unmet needs, including thoracic, gastrointestinal, and gynecological tumors. The investigational agent targets ROR1, an embryonic protein associated with poor prognosis in multiple cancers, and B7-H3, a tumor-associated immune regulator associated with poor prognosis and overexpressed in multiple cancers and several normal tissues. The program utilizes the SYNtecan E™ linker-payload platform technology from Lonza, containing the topoisomerase I inhibitor exatecan, and GlycoConnect®, HydraSpace®, and toxSYN®, which provides a highly stable and homogeneous ADC, which is critical for minimizing premature payload release, a common cause of side effects in older ADCs. [6]
- NEOK002 (formerly known as ABL209) is a potentially best-in-class bispecific ADC targeting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), a key oncogenic driver in multiple tumor types, and Mucin-1 (MUC1), a tumor-associated antigen characterized by aberrant glycosylation and overexpression (EGFRxMUC1), that has demonstrated superior in vivo efficacy compared to monovalent ADCs. The investigational agent is a heterodimeric 1+1 bispecific ADC with a drug-antibody ratio (DAR) of 4, conjugated with SYNtecan E™ linker-payload containing the topoisomerase I inhibitor exatecan. The dual-targeting capabilities of NEOK002 support its potential across several large patient populations and offer an opportunity to demonstrate enhanced efficacy and safety compared with competitive ADCs that target EGFR or MUC1 in isolation. [7]
- LY4101174 (ETx-22), an investigational ADC combining a tumor nectin-4–specific antibody and Lonza’s proprietary linker technologies, specifically GlycoConnect™ and HydraSpace™, allowing for stable, site-specific conjugation of the payload, resulting in a homogenous, high-stability product (DAR 8). In preclinical studies, the investigational agent demonstrated significant and durable responses in low-target–expressing tumor models that are resistant to monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE)-based enfortumab vedotin (Padcev®; Astellas Pharma and Pfizer) and has a better toxicity profile. Is currently in phase 1 clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LY4101174 at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D)/optimal dose in 7 expansion cohorts based on tumor type and/or treatment history (NCT06238479).[8][9]
Industry Recognition and Pipeline Expansion
The SYNtecan™ linker-payload platform has garnered industry recognition, notably winning the ‘Best Poster’ award at the 2021 World ADC Conference for its promising preclinical data. The platform is part of Lonza’s broader toxSYN™ suite, which provides a spectrum of payload options across multiple mechanisms of action for ADC developers.
Significant achievement
“BMS has long been at the forefront of innovation in our industry, and this agreement marks a significant achievement in our collaboration. Licensing SYNtecan™ linker-payloads, our TOPO1 inhibitor platform, to BMS provides another strong validation of its strength and trustworthiness in delivering positive clinical outcomes,” noted Jan Vertommen, Vice President of Commercial Development, Advanced Synthesis at Lonza.
“We are pleased to add BMS to our partnered pipeline as we collaborate to advance therapies that provide meaningful treatments to individuals still facing critical unmet medical needs,’ he added.
The partnership between BMS and Lonza underscores the growing importance of next-generation ADC platforms in oncology and highlights the continued industry shift towards more targeted, stable, and potent therapeutic modalities. As BMS integrates SYNtecan™ technology into its pipeline, the collaboration is poised to bring new hope to patients with limited treatment options.
__
Note:* Bicyclononyne carbamoyl sulfamide Val-Ala-PABC exatecan (SYNtecan E™)
** This is not a complete overview of all investigational ADC incorporation on Lonza’s platform technology.
Clinical trials
A Study of MGC026 in Participants With Advanced Solid Tumors – ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06242470
A Study of MGC028 in Participants With Advanced Solid Tumors – ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06723236
A Study of LY4101174 in Participants With Recurrent, Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors (EXCEED) – ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06238479
Highlights of Prescribing Information
Enfortumab vedotin (Padcev®; Astellas Pharma and Pfizer) [Prescribing Information]
Reference
[1] Wijdeven MA, van Geel R, Hoogenboom JH, Verkade JMM, Janssen BMG, Hurkmans I, de Bever L, van Berkel SS, van Delft FL. Enzymatic glycan remodeling-metal free click (GlycoConnect™) provides homogenous antibody-drug conjugates with improved stability and therapeutic index without sequence engineering. MAbs. 2022 Jan-Dec;14(1):2078466. doi: 10.1080/19420862.2022.2078466. PMID: 35634725; PMCID: PMC9154768.
[2] Nataliia Kalynovska, Diana Hudecz, Matous Hrdinka, Ilona Prochazkova, Eliska Kohelova, Lenka Palova Jelinkova, Filip Jaburek, Tomas Zimmermann, Lukas Fojtik, Irena Adkins, Sarka Stehlikova, Amy Jensen-Smith, Radek Spisek, Martin Steegmaier. Preclinical safety and efficacy of SOT109, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting cadherin 17 (CDH17) for the treatment of colorectal and other gastrointestinal tract tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 5469.
[3] Juniper A. Scribner, Jennifer G. Brown, Thomas Son, Linda Jin, Carroll McKenzie, Viktoriya Nam, Curtis Bush, Dienis Quinonez, James Tamura, Sergey Gorlatov, Hua Li, Shelley Butler, Ezio Bonvini, Deryk Loo. Preclinical development of MGC026, a glycan-linked, exatecan-based antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting B7-H3 for solid cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1904.
[4] Juniper A. Scribner, Jennifer G. Brown, Thomas Son, Linda Jin, Carroll McKenzie, Viktoriya Nam, Curtis Bush, Dienis Quinonez, Delta Ford, Verlene Gonzalez, James Tamura, Sergey Gorlatov, Hua Li, Shelley Butler, Ezio Bonvini, Deryk Loo. Preclinical development of MGC028, an ADAM9-targeted, glycan-linked, exatecan-based antibody-drug conjugate for the treatment of solid cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1897.
[5] Thomas O’Hare, Jaya Srivastava, Jaclyn Cleveland, Valerie Malyvanh Jansen, David Dornan. Preclinical discovery and characterization of EO-1022, a site-specific glycan-conjugated anti-HER3 vc-MMAE ADC for treating solid tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_2):Abstract nr LB004.
[6] Min Ji Ko, Junga Kwon, Suyoun Lee, Juhee Kim, Ilhwan Ryu, Junyoung Kim, JaeHyun Eom, Byeong Min Yoo, Hyeon Ji Park, Yong-Gyu Son, Donghoon Yeom, Arim Seo, Byungje Sung, Jinwon Jung, Jinhyung Ahn, Weon-Kyoo You, Sang Hoon Lee. NEOK001 (ABL206): A first in class B7-H3xROR1 bispecific ADC demonstrated enhanced efficacy and promising tolerability [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 1724.
[7] Bora Lee, Hyeon Ji Park, Byeong Min Yoo, Hangil Kim, Junyoung Kim, Arim Seo, Youngeun Hong, Donghoon Yeom, Yong-Gyu Son, Jaehyun Eom, Byungje Sung, Jinhyung Ahn, Jinwon Jung, Weon-Kyoo You, Sang Hoon Lee. NEOK002 (ABL209): Redesigning an EGFRxMUC1 bispecific TOP1i ADC with promising anti-tumor activity and enhanced therapeutic window [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 1726.
[8] Lopez M, Crompot E, Josselin E, Farina A, Rubis M, Castellano R, Fares J, Wehbe M, Collette Y, Charafe E, Blanchin S, Romagne F, Pálfi A, Hechler T, Pahl A, Azim HA Jr, Lhospice F, Mamessier E, Bertucci F, Elands J, Préville X, Olive D. ETx-22, a Novel Nectin-4-Directed Antibody-Drug Conjugate, Demonstrates Safety and Potent Antitumor Activity in Low-Nectin-4-Expressing Tumors. Cancer Res Commun. 2024 Nov 1;4(11):2998-3012. doi: 10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-24-0176. PMID: 39440991; PMCID: PMC11583010.
[9] Jonathan Rosenberg, Renaud Sabatier, Armelle Viceneux, Thibault de La Motte Rouge, Stephane Champiat, Loic Lebellec, Philippe Barthélémy, Guru Sonpavde, Xin Gao, Scot Niglio, Tian Zhang, Craig Gedye, Matthew Galsky, Matthew Milowsky, Melissa Reimers, Andrew Weickhardt, Enrique Grande, Daniel E. Castellano, Mehmet Bilen, Amita Patnaik, Robert Zerbib, Minna Balbas, Xiaojian Xu, Kaitlyn Aptaker, Arjun V. Balar, Ahmad H. Awada. A phase 1 study of LY4101174 (ETx-22), an antibody-drug conjugate targeting nectin-4, in patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer and other solid tumors (trial in progress) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr CT084.
Featured image © 2026 Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). Used with permission.
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