What AskGene Pharma does

AskGene Pharma Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2012 in Los Angeles and headquartered in Camarillo, California, with research and development operations in Nanjing, China. The company is a subsidiary of the publicly listed Chinese pharmaceutical firm Aosaikang Pharm (SZ002755). AskGene develops cytokine-based and antibody therapeutics for oncology, ophthalmology, and autoimmune diseases, anchored by its proprietary SmartKine® cytokine prodrug platform, which is designed to overcome limitations of conventional cytokines — short half-life, narrow therapeutic window, and systemic toxicity — by avoiding the cytokine sink, enabling disease-site-selective immune cell activation, and producing truly bi-functional antibody-cytokine fusion molecules with extended pharmacokinetics.

The company's clinical pipeline comprises four drug candidates: ASKB589, a recombinant humanized anti-CLDN18.2 monoclonal antibody in pivotal Phase III development for first-line advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers (reported 79.2% objective response rate and 95.8% disease control rate when combined with CAPOX in Phase I/II); ASKG712/AM712, a VEGF/ANG-2 bispecific for wet AMD and diabetic macular edema (Phase I, out-licensed ex-Asia plus Japan to AffaMed Therapeutics); ASKG315, the first IL-15 prodrug in clinical development; and ASKG915, the first anti-PD-1-IL-15 prodrug fusion molecule (both in Phase I). The company is led by founder-CEO Jian-Feng (Jeff) Lu, Ph.D., with senior leadership drawn primarily from Amgen, Genentech, and Xencor.

AskGene's revenue model is pre-commercial, centered on licensing and partnership economics: upfront payments, milestone payments tied to development and regulatory progress, and royalties on commercialized products. Capital is sourced from a USD 20 million Series A financing completed in May 2022 and led by Qiming Venture Partners and TF Capital, with strategic alliances providing additional non-dilutive funding and geographic reach. Go-to-market is conducted through partnership-based distribution (AffaMed, Xilio Therapeutics, GenScript ProBio) rather than an internal sales force, consistent with a clinical-stage biotech prioritizing pipeline progression over direct commercialization.

Name

AskGene Pharma

Legal name

AskGene Pharma Inc.

Website

https://ask-gene.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AskGene Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, subsidiary of Aosaikang Pharm, developing cytokine prodrug and antibody therapeutics for oncology, ophthalmology, and autoimmune diseases using its proprietary SmartKine® platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceuticals — Cytokine Prodrug & Antibody Therapeutics

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Cytokines, Interferons & Immunomodulatory Proteins (HLAAAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAD), Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)

Keywords

• Cytokine prodrug therapeutics
• Oncology antibody development
• Biopharmaceutical pipeline
• Immunotherapy drug development
• Bispecific antibody therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Camarillo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Royalty Revenue: AskGene Pharma generates revenue through licensing agreements where partners gain access to the company's cytokine prodrug technology platform and pipeline assets. The company receives upfront payments, milestone payments upon achievement of development and regulatory milestones, and ongoing sales royalties from commercialized products.
2. Drug Development and Commercialization: As a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, AskGene develops proprietary drug candidates through clinical trials with the goal of obtaining regulatory approval for commercialization. Revenue will be generated from product sales upon successful approval of drugs in the company's pipeline including ASKB589 for gastric cancer and other therapeutic programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

AskGene Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cytokine prodrug therapeutics and monoclonal antibodies for oncology, autoimmune, and ophthalmology indications, built on its proprietary SmartKine® platform. The company's current product pipeline includes ASKB589 (anti-CLDN18.2 antibody in Phase III for gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer), ASKG712/AM712 (VEGF/ANG-2 bispecific in Phase I for retinal diseases), ASKG315 (IL-15 prodrug in Phase I), and ASKG915 (PD-1–IL-15 prodrug fusion in Phase I). AskGene generates revenue today primarily through licensing and milestone payments from partners such as AffaMed Therapeutics and Xilio Therapeutics, with future commercial product sales expected upon regulatory approval.

Product overview

AskGene Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company with a diversified portfolio of clinical and preclinical programs. The company's core asset is its proprietary SmartKine® cytokine prodrug technology platform, which enables the development of next-generation cytokine therapies with improved safety profiles and extended therapeutic windows. The product pipeline includes: ASKB589 (anti-CLDN18.2 antibody in Phase III for gastric cancer), ASKG712 (VEGF/ANG-2 bispecific for ophthalmology in Phase I), ASKG315 (IL-15 prodrug in Phase I), and ASKG915 (PD-1-IL-15 prodrug fusion in Phase I). These programs target oncology, autoimmune diseases, and ophthalmology indications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ASKB589 Recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CLDN18.2 (Claudin 18.2) that mediates antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) against CLDN18.2-expressing cancer cells. In Phase III clinical development for first-line treatment of advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer, and being explored in pancreatic cancer and other CLDN18.2-expressing solid tumors.
• ASKG712 (AM712) Novel bispecific biologic molecule that simultaneously targets VEGF and ANG-2 pathways for ophthalmology indications including wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). Licensed to AffaMed Therapeutics for ex-Asia plus Japan territories.
• ASKG315 First prodrug molecule from the SmartKine® platform; an IL-15 prodrug that selectively activates NK cells and CD8+ T cells with extended half-life and improved safety relative to conventional cytokine drugs. In Phase I clinical development in China for cancer indications.
• ASKG915 World's first anti-PD-1 antibody–IL-15 prodrug fusion molecule; combines an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody with an IL-15 prodrug to achieve tumor targeting through PD-1 binding and local activation of IL-15 at the tumor site, combining therapeutic potencies of IL-15 super-agonist activity and anti-PD-1 blockade. In Phase I clinical development for cancer.

Quantifiable outcome

• ASKB589 Phase I/II: 79.2% objective response rate and 95.8% disease control rate in CLDN18.2 positive G&GEJ cancer patients with ≥6mg/kg dose combined with CAPOX
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GenScript ProBiocoreTechnology or Integration · 26 September 2021GenScript ProBio and AskGene signed a license agreement for GenScript ProBio's single-domain antibody (sdAb) targeting an immune checkpoint target. GenScript ProBio grants a non-exclusive global license to AskGene for discovery, development and commercialization of antibody and derivative products. GenScript ProBio will be the preferred partner for CMC development, clinical and commercial manufacturing of this product.
• Xilio TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2021AskGene Pharma signed a patent cross-licensing agreement with Xilio Therapeutics (Waltham, Massachusetts) in February 2021 for the development, production, and commercialization of cytokine-based products for oncology indications. Xilio gained access to AskGene's SmartKine cytokine prodrug IP. AskGene receives rights to develop and commercialize products in Asia Pacific region (except Japan) and retains priority access to autoimmune disease indications. Terms included $6 million non-refundable down payment, milestone payments upon product approval, and sales commissions.
• AffaMed TherapeuticscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2021AskGene licensed to AffaMed the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize ASKG712 (AM712) globally in ex-Asia plus Japan territories. AskGene retains rights for development, manufacturing, and commercialization in Asia territories except Japan. AffaMed is a global clinical stage biotechnology company developing transformative pharmaceutical, digital and surgical products. FDA IND cleared January 2022, first patient dosed June 2022 in US Phase 1 study.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Xencor: Clinical-stage biotech engineering XmAb bispecific antibodies and cytokine fusions. Directly comparable to AskGene's antibody-cytokine fusion approach; former employer of AskGene's CMO and source of Xilio's overlapping cytokine IP.
• Astellas Pharma: Developer of zolbetuximab, the first FDA-approved anti-CLDN18.2 antibody for CLDN18.2+ gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer. Direct competitor in AskGene's lead ASKB589 indication.
• Nektar Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engineering cytokine-based therapeutics (e.g., PEGylated IL-2, IL-10, IL-15). Directly comparable to AskGene in pursuit of improved cytokine pharmacology through proprietary chemistry and fusion platforms.
• ImmunityBio: Clinical-stage oncology company developing IL-15 superagonists (e.g., N-803/Anktiva) and combination immunotherapy regimens. Directly comparable to AskGene's ASKG315/ASKG915 IL-15 cytokine programs.
• Innovent Biologics: Chinese biotech developing osemitamab (anti-CLDN18.2 antibody) and broader oncology pipeline. Directly competes with ASKB589 in CLDN18.2+ gastric cancer and shares AskGene's cross-border US/China development model.
• I-Mab Biopharma: Clinical-stage China-US biotech with anti-CLDN18.2 antibody candidates (e.g., ragastomab) in oncology. Direct competitor to AskGene in the CLDN18.2 space and shares cross-border development model.
• Neoleukin Therapeutics: Preclinical-stage biotech developing de novo protein therapeutics (originally IL-2/IL-15 mimetics). Directly comparable to AskGene's SmartKine protein-engineering approach for next-generation cytokine drugs.

Broad incumbents

• Roche: Global biopharmaceutical leader with faricimab (Vabysmo), the first FDA-approved VEGF/ANG-2 bispecific for nAMD/DME. Directly comparable as competitor in the ASKG712 ophthalmology indication.
• Sanofi: Global biopharma with a deep cytokine and immuno-oncology pipeline built partly through its acquisition of Synthorx (IL-2 variant developer). Broad incumbent in next-generation cytokine therapeutics alongside AskGene's SmartKine platform.
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Market leader in retinal disease biologics via Eylea (aflibercept, anti-VEGF) and Eylea HD. Broad incumbent in the ophthalmology indication ASKG712 targets, defining standard of care and competitive pricing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AskGene Pharma