The parties will initially collaborate on multiple oncology targets provided by Boehringer Ingelheim, with the potential to expand and address additional oncology targets over time. For each target, Combotope will apply its SMART-Phage antibody discovery platform to generate tumor-selective, high-affinity antibodies that recognize glycan–protein epitopes, supported by a defined antibody characterization data package. Boehringer Ingelheim will then assume responsibility for further research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of resulting antibody-based therapies.

Under the terms of the agreement, Combotope will receive an upfront payment and research funding per target. The company is also eligible to receive development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments across multiple targets, in addition to royalties on net sales of any resulting products. Boehringer Ingelheim will hold global development and commercialization rights for products arising from the collaboration.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Tumor-specific glycan structures

Combotope’s approach is designed to identify antibodies that bind tumor-specific glycan structures (e.g., Tn and STn) together with their protein carriers (“combotopes”). These combined sugar-and-protein markers are often far more common on cancer cells than on healthy tissue, providing a clearer “address label” to guide antibody-based medicines. This is especially relevant for hard-to-treat cancers where established targeted options are limited, and may open up new cancer-selective opportunities across modalities such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

“At Combotope, we focus on cancer-specific glycan–protein targets that conventional antibody approaches cannot selectively address,” said Ola Blixt, CEO of Combotope. “By combining glycan and protein recognition, we aim to enable a new class of tumor-selective antibodies and expand the range of viable targets in oncology. We are excited to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim to translate this approach into potentially differentiated therapies.”