CrossBridge Bio has received a $15 million grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, providing significant financial support for the company’s continued advancement of CBB-120, its lead TROP-2 targeted dual-payload antibody-drug conjugate. The funding will enable the completion of IND-enabling studies and preparation for a first-in-human clinical trial planned for 2026.
The Houston-based biotechnology company is developing next-generation dual-payload ADCs designed to offer more durable and safer outcomes for patients, including those who have developed resistance to existing therapies. Its lead program, CBB-120, is built on CrossBridge Bio’s proprietary platform, which combines branched tripeptide linkers with a dual-payload architecture that integrates a topoisomerase-1 inhibitor and an ATR inhibitor within a single molecule. This approach is engineered to deliver synergy, improved durability, and the ability to address both tumor heterogeneity and resistance mechanisms that have limited earlier ADC generations.
Preclinical data generated to date has shown that CBB-120 can produce strong and durable antitumor responses, including in models resistant to standard-of-care ADCs. The program attracted significant attention at the 2025 World ADC Conference, where it became the most-attended non-plenary presentation in the event’s history, pointing to growing scientific enthusiasm for the company’s platform.
The CPRIT funding will allow the company to execute several key activities, including GLP toxicology studies, manufacturing scale-up, analytical development, and IND submission preparation. The grant represents a major milestone for CrossBridge Bio as it transitions its dual-payload technology from preclinical validation into human testing.
CrossBridge Bio continues to expand development of its broader pipeline using its EGCit branched linker technology, which is designed to enable stable and precise delivery of complex therapeutic payloads, supporting improved therapeutic index across multiple oncology applications.
KEY QUOTES
“We are honored to receive CPRIT’s support as we advance CBB-120 toward the clinic. This grant is a strong validation of the innovation behind our dual-payload platform and reflects the importance of bringing new treatment options to patients facing difficult-to-treat cancers. CPRIT’s support allows us to accelerate development with the urgency this opportunity deserves.”
Michael Torres, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, CrossBridge Bio
“CBB-120 showcases the full strength of our scientific approach – dual-payload engineering, branched linker chemistry, and precision delivery. We’re excited to build on the momentum from our World ADC recognition and move this program into clinical development, where we hope it will make a meaningful impact for patients with limited options.”
Dan Pereira, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, CrossBridge Bio
