NEOK Bio Doses First Patients in Phase 1 Trials of Bispecific ADCs NEOK001 and NEOK002

NEOK Bio, Inc. has dosed the first patients in each of the Phase 1 clinical trials for its lead bispecific antibody drug conjugate (ADC) candidates, NEOK001 and NEOK002, being developed for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. The company announced the milestone on May 27, 2026, marking its transition to a clinical-stage oncology therapeutics company.

NEOK001 is a first-in-class bispecific ADC designed to target B7-H3 and ROR1, two surface proteins highly expressed in cancer cells. NEOK002 is a novel bispecific ADC targeting EGFR and MUC1-expressing solid tumors. Each Phase 1 study is evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of these candidates in patients with cancers that co-express these targets. Both candidates enter the clinic on a foundation of promising preclinical studies in which they demonstrated superior in vivo efficacy in solid tumors compared to traditional monovalent ADCs.

"Advancing two ADC programs from preclinical development to first-in-human dosing in such a short time underscores the operational efficiency and execution capabilities of our team," said the CEO of NEOK Bio. "Our novel bispecific ADC approach holds significant promise for unlocking new therapeutic value for patients with hard-to-treat solid tumors who need more effective treatment options."

Initial clinical data from both Phase 1 studies are expected in 2027. NEOK Bio is focused on developing novel ADCs designed to improve outcomes for cancer patients and is backed by ABL Bio, a proven leader in antibody engineering.