Berlin, Germany and Brussels, Belgium ̶ December 9, 2025
ProBioGen and Spica Therapeutics (Spica), a pioneering biotechnology company advancing pathogenic macrophage subset-targeted immunotherapies, today announced a new collaboration. Under the agreement, ProBioGen will perform cell line development for ST101, Spica’s first clinical development candidate anti-CD163 depleting antibody for oncology. ST101 is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody designed to selectively deplete immunosuppressive CD163+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Spica has integrated ProBioGen’s proprietary GlymaxX® technology to boost antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).
"We are glad to collaborate with Spica Therapeutics on cell line development for ST101. ProBioGen’s CHO.RiGHT® expression platform including our proprietary DirectedLuck® transposase system for precise genetic engineering is designed to support biologics with high performance, high purity, and robust productivity. Incorporating GlymaxX offers an additional layer of functional enhancement aimed at strengthening the therapeutic potential of ST101", said Dr. Gabriele Schneider, Chief Business Officer at ProBioGen.
Dr. Hilde Revets, Director of Non-Clinical Development at Spica Therapeutics said: "This agreement marks an important step for our development candidate ST101. ProBioGen’s technical and scientific expertise as well as their highly collaborative approach make them a strong partner. Integrating their GlymaxX® technology supports our strategy of developing ST101 to deeply deplete immunosuppressive TAMs to remodel the tumor microenvironment, with the aim of boosting responses of cancer patients receiving immunotherapy."
This collaboration combines Spica’s innovative macrophage-focused therapeutic approach with ProBioGen’s proven expertise in cell line development and enabling innovative technologies. Together, the partnership provides a strong foundation for advancing ST101 towards future development milestones.
About GlymaxX
GlymaxX is ProBioGen’s technology for enhancing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) through targeted afucosylation, thereby significantly increasing its activity. GlymaxX is uniquely flexible: It can be integrated into both new and existing antibody cell lines as well as into entire expression and discovery platforms—without affecting productivity or product quality. Furthermore, the same GlymaxX cell line can produce antibodies with different fucosylation levels simply by changing the culture medium - fully afucosylated in fucose-free conditions or fully fucosylated in fucose-containing medium. This enables the production of multiple product formats—including ADCC-enhanced antibodies, fully fucosylated mAbs, or tailored glycoprofiles for biosimilars. ProBioGen offers GlymaxX royalty-free and non-exclusively as a service or standalone license.
About DirectedLuck
DirectedLuck is ProBioGen’s next-generation transposase system, combining a highly active transposase/transposon pair with epigenetic targeting to insert multiple transgene copies into genomic regions with high transcriptional activity. This enables exceptionally high and stable protein expression in pools and clones, reducing timelines and manual clone selection efforts. The system is compatible with standard vector designs and diverse host cell lines. DirectedLuck delivers superior cell lines for mAbs, complex glycoproteins, and multi-specific antibody formats. The system is available for out-licensing and is routinely used in ProBioGen’s client projects at no additional charge.
About Spica Therapeutics
Spica Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to transforming the treatment of cancer, fibrosis and inflammatory diseases through precision targeting macrophage biology. Founded on pioneering research from Aarhus University, the company utilizes a proprietary functional fingerprinting platform to identify and deplete specific pathogenic macrophage subsets while preserving beneficial immune cells. Headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, Spica is backed by a syndicate of leading life science investors.
About ProBioGen
ProBioGen is a Berlin-based expert in the development and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, viral vectors, and vaccines, powered by proprietary technologies that enhance product quality and features. Its CHO.RiGHT® platform enables fast, integrated cell line and process development, comprehensive analytics, and reliable GMP-compliant manufacturing, all supported by a highly experienced team. Operating for over 30 years, ProBioGen runs three manufacturing lines in Berlin, where 300 employees contribute to advancing next-generation therapies and global biotech innovation. The company’s growth strategy focuses on expanding its service value chain through organic growth and strategic opportunities, with a clear mission to enable tomorrow’s biopharmaceuticals.
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