Dianthus Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing treatments for autoimmune diseases, announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Nanjing Leads Biolabs for DNTH212 on October 16th. According to a company press release, Dianthus will pay Leads $38 million upfront, with total compensation of up to $1 billion tied to the completion of various development and regulatory milestones, for exclusive rights to develop and commercialize DNTH212 globally outside of Greater China.
DNTH212 is an investigational, extended half-life bifunctional fusion protein that inhibits pDC BDCA2 and BAFF/APRIL. Inhibiting pDC is intended to reduce Type 1 interferon production, which is associated with chronic inflammation and tissue damage. Inhibiting BAFF/APRIL is intended to suppress B-cell function, which generates autoantibodies against tissues that also trigger inflammation and tissue damage. According to the release, this approach targets both the innate and adaptive immune systems, which ultimately aims to provide a complementary, differentiated approach to treating various autoimmune indications. A two-part Phase I study of DNTH212 is expected to begin by the end of 2025.
According to the release, this acquisition is designed to complement Dianthus’ existing autoimmune portfolio. In addition to DNTH212, Dianthus is evaluating claseprubart as a treatment for adults with AChR+ gMG, a chronic autoimmune disorder. The company released positive topline data from a Phase II clinical trial evaluating its effectiveness in this capacity in September 2025, and plans to begin Phase III trials in 2026.
“We are excited to partner with Leads Biolabs and build upon our vision of becoming a leading autoimmune-focused biopharmaceutical company with the addition of DNTH212 to our pipeline,” said Marino Garcia, CEO, Dianthus Therapeutics, in the release. “Both claseprubart and DNTH212, with their validated mechanisms of action and patient friendly convenience of infrequent S.C. self-administration, have the potential to significantly improve the lives of patients suffering from a range of severe autoimmune disorders. We look forward to leveraging the pipeline-in-a-product potential of DNTH212.”
“We are pleased to partner with Dianthus, a leading biotechnology company with a proven track record of executing complex global clinical trials and delivering meaningful results for patients,” said Dr. Xiaoqiang Kang, Founder, Chairman, CEO, Leads Biolabs, in the release. “This collaboration reinforces our commitment to advancing highly innovative drug candidates into the clinic to address serious autoimmune conditions, while further diversifying our pipeline and positioning Leads Biolabs for long-term growth. Dianthus’ deep experience and expertise in this space will be invaluable as we work to bring LBL-047 to patients worldwide.”
