Bridge Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has formed a strategic alliance with HitGen Inc., a leading Chinese drug discovery platform company, to accelerate the development of novel anticancer drug candidates. The collaboration builds upon the success of initial hit finding and identification work utilizing HitGen’s DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology.
 
Bridge Biotherapeutics aims to expand its oncology portfolio, currently focused on EGFR inhibitors for lung cancer, by exploring new anticancer drug targets. The company has invested significant resources in developing analytical methods to discover targeted anticancer drugs with broad-spectrum efficacy. The partnership with HitGen is expected to expedite the identification, optimization, and advancement of lead compounds within the next year.
 
HitGen’s DEL platform, which boasts over 1.2 trillion small molecules, has proven efficient in drug discovery projects worldwide. The company’s expertise in DEL, synthetic therapeutic oligonucleotides (STO), targeted protein degradation (TPD), fragment-based drug discovery, and structure-based drug design positions it as a leader in the field.
 
James Lee, CEO of Bridge Biotherapeutics stated, “By collaborating with HitGen, we will accelerate the discovery of new targeted anticancer drugs.” He added, “We will challenge ourselves to develop drugs that can provide anticancer treatment effects even for genetically mutated cancers, which have been difficult to develop until now.”
 
Dr. Jin Li, Chairman of the Board and CEO of HitGen Inc., expressed, ” We are pleased to collaborate with Bridge Biotherapeutics team in generating novel drug candidates based on the screening platform we possess,” and stated, “We will contribute to the acceleration of new anticancer drug discovery based on the expertise of both companies.”
 
Bridge Biotherapeutics is currently conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial for its lead candidate drug, BBT-207, to treat non-small cell lung cancer. The partnership with HitGen marks a significant step forward in the company’s efforts to strengthen its oncology portfolio and deliver innovative treatments to patients with cancer.