Philadelphia-based Tolerance Bio has licensed efineptakin alfa (NT-I7), a long-acting IL-7 fusion protein, from South Korea-based NeoImmuneTech (KOSDAQ: 950220.KQ) for development and commercialization across certain thymus-related indications in the Americas and Europe, with potential milestone payments of up to USD 260 million plus equity consideration and tiered royalties on net sales.
The deal marks Tolerance Bio's transition from a preclinical platform company. The firm was founded in October 2024 with a USD 17.2 million seed round and later expanded to USD 20.2 million — into clinical-stage operations. The company said it plans to initiate Phase II studies evaluating efineptakin alfa in thymic function enhancement, with HIV immunological non-response among the initial indications.
Efineptakin alfa is described by NeoImmuneTech as a next-generation fusion protein with two IL-7 moieties stabilized by N-terminal engineering and fused to the company's hyFc long-acting platform, designed to extend half-life and sustain IL-7 activity. The molecule has been evaluated in more than 800 subjects across 15 clinical studies, generating safety, tolerability, and pharmacologic data that the companies said support further development. No specific trial identifiers or efficacy data were disclosed in the announcement.
The license covers "certain thymus-related indications" rather than all possible uses of the molecule, preserving NeoImmuneTech's ability to continue pursuing oncology, CAR-T combination, and other non-thymic programs independently or with other partners. NeoImmuneTech retains rights outside the Americas and Europe.