Lever Bio Secures Exclusive License from VIB for LVB-003, a Novel Immunometabolic Therapy for Solid Tumors

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Turin, 29th September 2026 - Lever Bio, a biotechnology company developing next-generation immuno-oncology therapies, has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with VIB to advance LVB-003, a novel VHH antibody-based therapeutic program targeting SLC4A4 (NBCe1), a key regulator of tumor metabolism and acidity.

The agreement follows the strong preclinical progress achieved through Lever Bio’s scientific collaboration with Professor Massimiliano Mazzone’s laboratory at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology and VIB Discovery Sciences, VIB’s in-house drug discovery unit.. Building on these results, Lever Bio will now lead the further development of LVB-003, with the goal of advancing the program toward first-in-human studies.

“The progress we have made with LVB-003 over the past year has reinforced our confidence in both the biology of SLC4A4 and the potential of this program to become a new therapeutic approach for solid tumors,” said Chiara Donini, Head of Scientific Development at Lever Bio. “We are particularly pleased to build on the excellent scientific collaboration established with Professor Mazzone and his laboratory, whose expertise in tumor metabolism and the tumor microenvironment has been instrumental in advancing the program. We are also grateful for VIB’s continued support and for the extensive drug development expertise they bring to this collaboration. Securing the license for LVB-003 is an important step that allows us to move the program into its next stage of development and closer to clinical translation.”

“The licensing of LVB-003 is an exciting step in translating our research into potential new therapies for cancer patients,” said Professor Massimiliano Mazzone, Principal Investigator and Professor at VIB-KU Leuven. “I am grateful to co-inventors Federica Cappellesso, Federico Virga and Marie-Pauline Orban, whose pioneering work helped establish the scientific foundation of this program. We are pleased to see Lever Bio build on these discoveries and continue advancing them toward patient impact”.

Solid tumors profoundly reshape their metabolism to sustain growth and survive within a hostile tumor microenvironment. One consequence of this metabolic adaptation is the development of an acidic tumor microenvironment, which can promote cancer progression and impair effective anti-tumor immune responses.

LVB-003 is designed to interfere with this process by targeting SLC4A4, a bicarbonate transporter involved in the regulation of cellular pH and tumor metabolism. By blocking SLC4A4 activity, the program aims to disrupt metabolic adaptations exploited by cancer cells while creating a tumor microenvironment more permissive to anti-tumor immunity. This approach positions LVB-003 at the intersection of cancer metabolism and immunotherapy, with the potential to provide a new therapeutic strategy for difficult-to-treat solid tumors.

Over the past year, Professor Mazzone’s laboratory and Lever Bio have generated a comprehensive preclinical data package supporting the therapeutic potential of SLC4A4 inhibition. The program has demonstrated encouraging anti-tumor activity across preclinical models, together with pharmacological and translational properties supporting its continued development.

The agreement builds on the strategic partnership established between Lever Bio and VIB in May 2025 to translate discoveries from Professor Mazzone’s research into novel VHH antibody-based therapies targeting key metabolic and immunological mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment.

Contacts:

Website: www.leverbio.com

E-mail: info@leverbio.com

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Lever Bio

Lever Bio is a biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation immuno-oncology therapies. By leveraging metabolic and immune system reprogramming, the company aims to overcome resistance to existing cancer treatments, particularly in solid tumors. Through strategic in-licensing agreements and collaborations with leading research institutions, Lever Bio is dedicated to advancing novel biologics to improve patient outcomes.

VIB

VIB is a leading life sciences research institute based in Belgium, operating in close partnership with the Flemish universities and renowned for its work in medical sciences, plant biology, microbiology, artificial intelligence and biotechnology. VIB's mission is to push the boundaries of scientific discovery, transform it into disruptive biotech innovations and support the growth of the life sciences ecosystem in Flanders, Belgium.

The VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology (CCB) explores cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis, focusing on interactions between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. Its research highlights the micro-environment’s role in tumor heterogeneity, immune evasion, and therapy response. By identifying biomarkers for early detection and treatment monitoring, researchers at CCB contribute to more effective therapies. Committed to translational research, technology transfer, and starting up spin-offs, the center bridges scientific innovation with real-world applications, driving advancements in cancer treatment. Their work supports the development of combined therapeutic strategies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and antiangiogenic treatments, targeting both tumor cells and their micro-environment.