Hillstream BioPharma announces development of Knob Quatrabodies

Hillstream BioPharma (HILS) announced the development of proprietary targeted biologics, Knob Quatrabodies against PD-1. Hillstream signed separate collaboration agreements with a subsidiary of OmniAb, Inc. (OABI) and with Minotaur Therapeutics to advance Picobodies against novel, unreachable and undruggable epitopes in high-value validated targets starting with PD-1. The technologies of Hillstream and Minotaur will be combined under a previously disclosed license from OmniAb to discover, develop and advance biotherapeutics against high-value validated targets. Picobodies are antibody "knob" domains comprised of cysteine-rich ultralong complementary determining region H3 sequences of 30-40 amino acids, which have the potential to access challenging epitopes better than full size antibodies can. By combining Quatramers with their long half-life coated with a PD-1 Picobody to create HSB-1940, Hillstream believes it could more efficiently target novel epitopes with greater binding affinity than approved biologics. Targeting PD-1 is a step toward enabling Hillstream to enter the rapidly growing Immuno-oncology therapeutics market with additional IO targets after PD-L1.