Lyvgen Biopharma

Lyvgen Biopharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company established in 2016, with a strategic focus on developing novel immuno-oncology therapeutics. The company was founded by Dr. Jieyi Wang, who currently serves as Chairman and CEO. Dr. Wang possesses extensive experience in oncology and immunotherapy research, having spent 22 years at Abbott/AbbVie where he led research teams that advanced multiple antibody-drug candidates into clinical development. This deep industry background in innovative drug discovery directly informs Lyvgen's mission to create new treatment options for cancer patients.

The company's core technology is the proprietary xLinkAb™ platform, which engineers agonist antibodies designed to activate immune co-stimulatory receptors selectively within the tumor microenvironment. This platform aims to solve a critical challenge in immunotherapy: maximizing anti-tumor activity while minimizing systemic toxicities often associated with first-generation agonists. The xLinkAb™ technology achieves this by creating antibodies with engineered Fc regions that require cross-linking by the FcγRIIB receptor—a receptor enriched on immune cells within the tumor—to become fully active. This mechanism concentrates the therapeutic effect at the tumor site, potentially offering a wider therapeutic window.

Lyvgen's business model centers on the in-house research and clinical development of its pipeline assets, while also being open to out-licensing and collaboration opportunities. The company has successfully raised significant capital to fund its operations, including a $30 million Series B round in 2018 and a Series C round in 2021 led by prominent investors such as IDG Capital and 6 Dimensions Capital. Lyvgen operates globally with research and development centers in Shanghai, a CMC process development site in Suzhou, and clinical and business development teams in both China and the US.

The clinical pipeline features several promising candidates. LVGN6051 (exlinkibart) is a monoclonal antibody agonist targeting CD137 (4-1BB), which has shown a favorable safety profile and preliminary efficacy in Phase I and Ib/II trials, both as a monotherapy and in combination with other agents like anti-PD-1 antibodies. Another key asset, LVGN7409, is a CD40 agonist monoclonal antibody designed to convert immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" ones, making them more responsive to checkpoint inhibitors. This candidate has also advanced into clinical trials, demonstrating a tolerable safety profile in early studies. Through these programs, Lyvgen is developing treatments for a range of solid tumors, including head and neck, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers.

Keywords: immuno-oncology, agonist antibodies, xLinkAb platform, cancer therapy, biopharmaceutical, clinical-stage, CD137 agonist, 4-1BB, LVGN6051, exlinkibart, CD40 agonist, LVGN7409, tumor microenvironment, monoclonal antibody, Fc engineering, immunotherapy, solid tumors, Jieyi Wang, clinical trials, oncology therapeutics, antibody drug development, checkpoint inhibitors