Myeloid Cell Engagers emerge as next hotspot in innovative drug arena with Novartis, Sanofi, Eli Lilly and GSK

As competition in the innovative drug sector intensifies, myeloid cell engagers (MCEs) have rapidly evolved from niche mechanistic assets into strategic priorities, sparking fierce competition among leading pharma companies. Since 2024, industry giants including Novartis, Sanofi, Eli Lilly, and GSK have aggressively secured their positions in this field through a series of high-value deals, signaling that MCE technology has emerged as the next major frontier in drug discovery.

Among them, the core platform of clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Dren Bio has demonstrated significant advantages. In July 2024, Novartis entered into a strategic collaboration with Dren Bio. This partnership will focus on utilizing Dren Bio's proprietary targeted myeloid cell engager and phagocytosis platform to discover and develop bispecific antibodies for treating cancer. The total potential value of this deal could reach up to $3 billion.

Information indicates that Dren Bio's targeted myeloid cell engager and phagocytosis platform is a bispecific antibody-based technology. It facilitates the effective depletion of pathogenic cells, protein aggregates, and other disease-causing factors by engaging a novel phagocytic receptor selectively expressed on myeloid cells. The bispecific antibodies generated by this platform are specifically designed to conditionally activate myeloid cells only in the presence of the target antigen. This design results in a higher therapeutic index and offers a superior safety profile compared to other modalities, such as T cell engagers (TCEs) and Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs).

A Novartis representative stated that this novel bispecific MCE therapy would complement the company's strategic portfolio in oncology, which includes targeted therapies, biologics, radioligands, and CAR-T therapies.

In March 2025, Sanofi announced it had entered into a definitive agreement with Dren Bio to acquire the myeloid cell-targeting bispecific antibody DR-0201, in a deal valued at up to $1.9 billion.

Information shows that DR-0201 is a bispecific myeloid cell engager (MCE). Its mechanism of action is analogous to TCEs, but its uniqueness lies in engaging myeloid cells—including monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells—instead of T cells, on one end, while binding to target cells (e.g., tumour cells) on the other. This mechanism bridges myeloid cells with target cells, thereby activating the myeloid cells to eliminate the targets. Specifically, one arm of DR-0201 targets CD20 on B cells, while the other arm targets Dectin-1 on dendritic cells and macrophages. By inducing phagocytosis by these myeloid cells, it achieves profound B cell depletion. In the field of autoimmune disease treatment, profound B cell depletion is believed to have the potential to reset the adaptive immune system, potentially offering sustained treatment-free remission for patients with refractory B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.

According to Dren Bio, DR-0201 has demonstrated the potential for profound B cell depletion in preclinical studies and early clinical trials. Currently, DR-0201 is undergoing Phase I clinical trials for indications including B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Sjögren's syndrome, and polymyositis.

Chinese biopharmaceutical companies are also demonstrating remarkable performance in this field. Among them, LTZ Therapeutics has attracted collaborations from two industry leaders, Eli Lilly and GSK, based on its internally developed MCE platform.

In July 2025, Eli Lilly entered into a significant strategic collaboration with LTZ Therapeutics. The alliance aims to develop novel "Myeloid Engager Therapeutics" against specific targets for treating autoimmune diseases with high unmet medical needs. LTZ Therapeutics is set to receive multiple forms of compensation from this deal, including an upfront payment of tens of millions of US dollars.

Serving as the core technology engine of LTZ Therapeutics, its internally developed "Myeloid Cell Engager" platform is rooted in "Reverse Translational Science" and a deep understanding of "myeloid cell biology." The platform enables precise targeting of specific myeloid cell subsets (e.g., macrophages) to dynamically modulate immune system balance—it can suppress overactive immune responses and re-establish immune homeostasis in autoimmune diseases, while breaking the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment and effectively activating anti-tumour immunity in oncology. This unique and innovative mechanism holds promise for overcoming drug resistance, significantly improving efficacy, and laying a solid foundation for developing the next generation of immunotherapies.

In November 2025, LTZ Therapeutics further entered into a landmark strategic collaboration with GSK. Leveraging LTZ Therapeutics' "Myeloid Cell Engager" platform, the two parties will co-develop up to four First-in-Class drug candidates in the oncology field, focusing on critical unmet needs in both hematologic malignancies and solid tumours. LTZ Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment of $50 million and is eligible for potential milestone payments based on future development progress.

A GSK representative commented that the proprietary "Myeloid Cell Engager" technology platform from LTZ Therapeutics represents a key direction for the next generation of cancer immunotherapy. Its unique mechanism not only demonstrates robust targeted anti-tumour potential but also possesses significant differentiated advantages in terms of safety and potential community accessibility. This collaboration deeply aligns with GSK's strategy of focusing on real-world patient needs and integrating cutting-edge technologies to create novel medicines.

The concentrated investments from multinational pharmaceutical companies underscore the strategic value of MCEs. MCE technology is poised to represent a major direction for the next wave of cancer immunotherapy. Its differentiated advantages in safety and potential accessibility align with the global pharmaceutical industry's R&D logic focused on addressing genuine patient needs. As drugs like DR-0201 progress into clinical stages, the clinical value of MCEs will be further validated.