Abstract C002: Novel anti-CD3 heavy chain-only antibodies for use in T-cell engaging therapeutics

Abstract Background: Multispecific T cell-engager (TCEs) antibodies have shown great promise as immunotherapeutic molecules. These therapies redirect T cells to recognize and kill cancer cells through co-engagement of tumor associated antigens and a T cell antigen, often CD3. Despite their clinical efficacy, the molecular complexity of current TCEs poses challenges for drug manufacturability, developability, and achieving desirable pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics. Currently, all approved TCE multispecifics rely on αCD3 binders derived from conventional IgG antibodies. Heavy chain-only antibodies (HCAbs) featuring a single-domain (VHH) binding moiety are attractive alternatives to conventional IgGs in immunotherapies. The absence of a light chain in HCAbs notably simplifies multispecific development. To-date, no αCD3 HCAbs with properties comparable to best-in-class clinically approved IgGs have been reported. Methods: Functional αCD3 HCAbs were discovered by combining llama immunization and a novel yeast-based HCAb discovery technology. Following rounds of yeast-based HCAb selection, T cell stimulating αCD3 HCAbs were identified, humanized, and optimized to exhibit desirable drug profiles. We demonstrated the potency of these lead molecules in two bispecific formats: 1+1 αCD3 X αCD20 and as a VHH-TCR fusion using a TCR specific for the gp100 peptide HLA complex. CD3ε binding was confirmed by x-ray crystallography using one of the lead HCAbs. Results: This study resulted in a panel of six functional αCD3 TCEs. These molecules predominantly competed with a known CD3 epitope, recognizing the CD3ε subunit of the human T cell receptor complex with weak to strong affinities and robust drug developability profiles. Crystallographic data and subsequent structural modelling show a unique angle of approach for our lead stimulating HCAb suggesting the interaction with the TCR complex is likely limited to only the CD3δε heterodimer, as CD3γε docking is modeled to produce significant steric clashes. The panel displayed a promising functional potency range as multispecifics; with two molecules displaying comparable in vitro tumor cell killing efficacy to clinically validated molecules such as the first-in-class TCR-αCD3 fusion TCE, tebentafusp. Conclusions: We showcase the discovery and engineering of novel αCD3 HCAbs with functional potency comparable to other clinically validated molecules. This panel of highly-developable HCAbs provide new building blocks to expand the design space for TCE multispecifics and enable the next generation of multispecific immunotherapeutics. Citation Format: Hannah Watkins, Paul Khalife, Elizabeth Parker, Cameron Henkel, Todd Boland, Hailey Heston, Christin Strong, Jinfu Zhao, Irina Burnina, Michael Brown, Jessica Dawson, Garrett Rappazzo, Beth Sharkey, Morgan Morrill, Michael Battles, Robert Pejchal, Eric Krauland, Noel Pauli. Novel anti-CD3 heavy chain-only antibodies for use in T-cell engaging therapeutics [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Immuno-Oncology Conference (AACR IO): Discovery and Innovation in Cancer Immunology: Revolutionizing Treatment through Immunotherapy; 2026 Feb 18-21; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2026;14(2 Suppl):Abstract nr C002.