Debiopharm, a privately held Swiss biopharmaceutical company focused on addressing critical unmet medical needs, has announced a strategic research collaboration with NetTargets, a South Korean AI-driven drug discovery company, to develop next-generation dual-payload Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) for drug-resistant cancers. The partnership brings together NetTargets’ advanced AI-powered systems biology platform with Debiopharm’s proprietary MLINK Duo technology to create synergistic, multi-targeted cancer therapies. The collaboration leverages NetTargets’ AI Discovery Engine, which integrates multi-omics data with deep neural networks to identify highly effective drug combinations. By analyzing complex biological interactions, the platform can predict synergistic pairings—referred to as “one-two punches”—that deliver significantly greater anti-cancer effects than individual drugs alone. These AI-identified payloads will be incorporated into Debiopharm’s ADCs using MLINK Duo, a cleavable, peptide-based linker designed to carry two distinct cytotoxic agents on a single antibody. This innovation enables precise, coordinated delivery and release of both warheads inside cancer cells, enhancing therapeutic impact while reducing off-target toxicity. Frédéric Lévy, Chief Scientific Officer at Debiopharm, emphasized the strategic importance of the alliance. “To overcome treatment resistance, we must move beyond single-agent therapies,” he said. “By combining NetTargets’ AI-driven discovery with our MLINK Duo platform, we’re rationally designing ADCs that attack cancer from multiple angles simultaneously. This not only boosts immediate efficacy but also reduces the likelihood of resistance developing.” Debiopharm’s ADC development strategy is built on a “Trifecta” approach: selecting optimal targets, applying innovative MultiLINK™ linker technology, and choosing smart, potent payloads. The company’s clinical pipeline includes Debio 1562M, a CD37-targeted ADC in development for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, and Debio 0532 and Debio 2512, which target HER3 and HER3/HER2-driven solid tumors. The company is also exploring new targets and expanding its capabilities in dual-payload ADCs. NetTargets, a leader in explainable AI (XAI) for drug discovery, uses its digital twin platform to model biological systems and simulate drug responses. By combining pathway-level data with machine learning, the platform uncovers hidden vulnerabilities in cancer cells, enabling the design of novel, mechanism-based therapies. Dr. Je-Hoon Song, CEO of NetTargets, said, “Our AI models go beyond prediction—they reveal the underlying biology. Partnering with Debiopharm allows us to translate these insights into real-world treatments that could transform outcomes for patients with resistant cancers.” The collaboration marks a significant step forward in precision oncology, combining artificial intelligence with cutting-edge bioengineering to tackle some of the most challenging cancers. Debiopharm remains committed to accelerating innovative therapies from discovery to patient access, working with partners to expand its pipeline and improve global health outcomes.