Biond Biologics and Guangzhou-Israel Bio-Industry Investment Fund (GIBF) Announce Strategic Investment and Joint Venture Launch, Advancing First-in-Class Oncology Projects in China
MISGAV, Israel and GUANGZHOU, ChinaJune 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Biond Biologics Ltd., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing first-in-class immunotherapies for cancer and immune-mediated diseases, and the Guangzhou-Israel Bio-Industry Investment Fund (GIBF), a leading life sciences investment fund, today jointly announced an $8 million strategic investment and the establishment of a joint venture in China to advance the development of Biond’s innovative oncology pipeline.
The newly established joint venture will focus on accelerating the development of Biond’s core programs, including BND-67, a first-in-class therapy targeting CD28 shedding, and BND-22, an anti-ILT2 antibody currently in Phase 2 clinical trials, along with other pipeline assets. This collaboration will combine Biond’s differentiated oncology research and development technology with GIBF’s deep expertise in China’s biotechnology sector, covering clinical development, regulatory strategy, and local partnerships. The parties aim to accelerate clinical implementation, expand combination therapy regimens, and maximize the value of Biond’s pipeline in the Chinese market.
Biond Pipeline Products
- BND-22: A Phase 2 clinical-stage anti-ILT2 immune checkpoint inhibitor that restores anti-tumor immunity by targeting the ILT2-HLA-G axis. BND-22 has demonstrated efficacy in heavily pretreated cancer patients with poor responses to immuno-oncology (IO) therapies, including microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC), and is currently being studied in a Phase 2 clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
- BND-67: Biond’s next-generation immunotherapy, a first-in-class agent targeting CD28 shedding. CD28 shedding represents a novel immune evasion mechanism with the potential to redefine T-cell regulation in cancer. Given CD28’s central role in T-cell activation, BND-67 employs a novel mechanism to restore immune responses. By maintaining CD28 signaling, the drug enhances effector T-cell activity while selectively inhibiting regulatory T-cell function, resulting in a potent and durable anti-tumor effect. This program is Investigational New Drug (IND)-ready, with a Phase 1 clinical trial planned to commence in the second quarter of 2026.
Ori Shilo, Chief Financial Officer and Co-Founder of Biond Biologics, stated: “The strategic partnership with GIBF marks a significant milestone in the global advancement of our pipeline. Leveraging our innovative scientific platform, combined with GIBF’s deep understanding of China’s biotechnology landscape, we will accelerate the development of our core programs, BND-22 and BND-67, expand the value of key indications, and fully leverage the clinical and commercial capabilities of both parties along with the scale of the Chinese market.”
Avner Lushi, Managing Partner of GIBF, stated: “We are delighted to partner with Biond Biologics, a company focused on developing differentiated therapies targeting novel immune pathways. China’s biotechnology market has rapidly emerged as a global innovation hub, featuring high-quality clinical development and translational research systems. We believe that by leveraging GIBF’s unique investment model, we can efficiently advance the development of Biond’s products, creating significant value for patients and shareholders in the future. At the same time, we will work with Biond to expand collaborations across the Asian region, further enhancing Biond’s R&D capabilities and global footprint.”