AN3025 is an in-house developed, potential first-in-class, anti-human tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (“TNFR2”) monoclonal antibody (“mAb”). Its discovery was published in a top academic journal Frontiers in Immunology.

Tumor necrosis factor (“TNF”) is a key regulator of the immune system that initiates and orchestrates inflammation. Elevation of TNF expression and signaling has been associated with different autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, TNF is a cytokine produced by T helper cells, natural killer cells and neutrophil, which can induce tumor cell apoptosis to inhibit tumor growth and viral replication, especially accumulated at high concentration in local tumor environment or viral infection site. This property can be employed as an anti-cancer therapy. TNF exerts its effect through two receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2. TNFR2 is found typically in cells of the immune system, and responds to the membrane-bound form of the TNF homotrimer. Upon binding to TNF ligand, TNFR2 results in recruitment of the TRAF2 and stimulates the pro-survival nuclear factor kappa B (“NF-κB”) pathway, contributes to immune regulation and tissue regeneration.