Aptevo expands cancer pipeline with two new trispecific therapies

SEATTLE - Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:APVO), a micro-cap biotechnology company with a market capitalization of $5.26 million, announced Thursday the expansion of its cancer treatment pipeline with two new trispecific candidates targeting prostate and other solid tumors. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a healthy liquidity position with a current ratio of 2.27, indicating sufficient resources to fund its development programs. The clinical-stage biotechnology company has filed provisional patents for APVO452 and APVO451, designed to simultaneously engage tumor antigens, T cells, and immunosuppressive cells.

The new candidates build upon clinical validation from Aptevo’s lead candidate mipletamig, which has demonstrated safety and efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia trials with more than 100 patients. According to the company, mipletamig has shown high remission rates with no observed cytokine release syndrome in frontline patients treated to date.

APVO452 targets PSMA, CD3, and CD40, and is designed specifically for prostate cancers. APVO451 targets Nectin-4, CD3, and CD40, intended for multiple solid tumor types. Both candidates utilize the company’s proprietary ADAPTIR-FLEX platform technology.

"These molecules are designed with a finely tuned mechanism of action that not only activates T cells in a tumor-specific manner but also modulates the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment," said Peter Pavlik, Senior Director of Protein Engineering at Aptevo, in the press release.

The company states these trispecific therapies aim to address challenges in treating solid tumors, where the tumor microenvironment often suppresses immune responses. In preclinical studies, APVO452 reportedly activated the immune system only in the presence of tumor cells. While the company’s clinical developments show promise, InvestingPro analysis indicates the company faces financial challenges with negative EBITDA of $24.04 million in the last twelve months.

With these additions, Aptevo now has eight bispecific and trispecific therapeutic candidates in its pipeline, including five that employ the CRIS-7-derived CD3 pathway. The company is currently evaluating mipletamig in a Phase 1b/2 trial for frontline AML in combination with standard-of-care treatments.

The information in this article is based on a company press release. For deeper insights into Aptevo’s financial health, valuation metrics, and additional technical indicators, InvestingPro subscribers have access to over 10 additional exclusive ProTips and comprehensive financial analysis tools.

In other recent news, Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. announced it has regained compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements after raising approximately $15.9 million in equity capital during the quarter ending June 30, 2025. This development follows a previous disclosure that the company was not in compliance with Nasdaq’s equity requirements. Additionally, Aptevo closed an $8 million registered direct offering, selling shares of common stock and warrants to purchase additional shares. In another strategic move, Aptevo expanded its immuno-oncology pipeline by introducing APVO455, a Nectin-4 x CD3 bispecific T-cell engager targeting solid tumors. The company also highlighted the significance of its preclinical asset, APVO442, designed for prostate cancer treatment. Shareholders recently approved all proposals at Aptevo’s 2025 Annual Meeting, including the election of Marvin L. White and John E. Niederhuber, M.D. to the board of directors. These developments indicate ongoing strategic initiatives within Aptevo Therapeutics.

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