About us

Empowering new therapeutics with advanced antibody discovery technologies

At AbTherx, we are redefining therapeutic antibody discovery. We are driven by our passion for creating best-in-class therapeutics by advancing transgenic technologies with rigorous science. The Atlas™ Platform from AbTherx is built on two decades of experience and utilizes evolutionary intelligence to identify diverse and developable human antibody sequences.

We enable the discovery and development of monoclonal and bispecific antibodies against diverse targets, including GPCRs and ion channels, unlocking previously inaccessible therapeutic opportunities and providing drug developers with powerful new technologies. In addition to engineering the Atlas Mice for unmatched performance, our flexible partnership models drive innovation across the industry by catering to the diverse needs of drug developers of all sizes.

Atlas™ Mouse Platform

AbTherx’s Atlas Mice are engineered to create high-quality human antibodies to access all types of targets, from simple to complex, including GPCRs and ion channels. These transgenic technologies are licensed as part of an exclusive partnership with Gilead.

Target GPCRs and Ion Channels with Long CDR3 Mouse

long-CDR30mouse
  • Unlocks access to buried epitopes within GPCRs, ion channels, and other difficult targets
  • Fully human antibodies that minimize developability and immunogenicity risks
  • Leverages a rare but naturally occurring human mechanism to generate long CDR3 regions

Better Bispecific Antibodies with Binary Fixed Light Chain Mouse

binary-fixed-light-chain
  • Enables native-like IgG bispecifics that improve manufacturability and developability
  • Increases hit rate and expands antibody repertoire by including two fixed light chain options, with optimized heavy-light chain pairing
  • Novel, patent-pending design overcomes the limitations of current technologies

Updated Industry Standard with Full Human Diversity Mouse

full-human-diversity
  • Generates fully human antibodies with affinities into the single-digit picomolar range
  • Thoughtfully designed to capture the full human heavy and kappa light chain repertoire
  • Designed to minimize immunogenicity and developability risks by excluding rare V genes

Team

Platform Leadership

Our core team has collaborated for over 20 years at Medarex, BMS, and Zai Lab, leading over 1,000 successful antibody discovery campaigns; the platforms used there resulted in 13 marketed therapeutics.

Peter-Brams
Chief Scientific Officer

Peter Brams, PhD

Experience:

VP, Antibody Discovery, Zai Lab
Senior Director, Antibody Center of Excellence, Bristol Myers Squibb
Director, Antibody Discovery, Medarex
Senior Scientist, Biogen Idec

Peter is the Chief Scientific Officer of AbTherx. He has spent his career focused on the generation of clinical-grade human antibodies, e.g., Opdivo (anti-PD1), Ofatumumab (anti-CD20), Ulocuplomab (anti-CXCR4), and  anti-CCR8 antibodies in clinical trials1 for BMS and Zai Lab. Peter grew the antibody-generating unit at Medarex from seven people using hybridoma and only manual protocols, to a multi-site, multidisciplinary, highly automated unit, supplying all antibodies to meet the needs of the entire Bristol Myers Squibb corporation. Peter was involved at all levels of the pursuit, adding novel conceptual approaches to antigen design, automation strategies, immunization developments, and electrofusion protocols, as well as single cell antibody cloning and antibody gene analysis. He has authored over 100 submitted and approved patents.

Peter has worked with some of the most disruptive thinkers in the field: Lennard Olson (first human human hybridoma), Robert Gallo (advanced HIV research on all fronts), Ivor Royston (human antibody pioneer), Nabil Hannah (identified CD20 as clinical antibody target: Rituximab was the first curative anti-cancer antibody), Nils Lonberg (generated the HuMAb Mouse® platform at Medarex), and Alan Korman (moved immuno-oncology from lab bench to bedside).  

Peter received his PhD from the University of Aarhus in Denmark.

1Campbell JR et al, Cancer Res 2021;81:2983–94. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-20-3585

Dan-Rohrer
Chief Technology Officer

Dan Rohrer, PhD

Experience:

Senior Director, Zai Lab
Senior Director, Bristol Myers Squib
Member, Biotech Industry Advisory Council, Cal Poly SLO
Senior Director, Medarex
Senior Scientist, Chiron Corp.
Board Member, Aldar Academy
Scientist, Roche Bioscience
Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University

Dan is the Chief Technology Officer of AbTherx. He has over 25 years of broad experience in therapeutic drug discovery. Over the last 20 years, Dan and his scientific teams have specialized in creating therapeutic antibody discovery platforms in transgenic mice, including managing and refining the HuMAb Mouse® platform – the most successful platform based on the number of FDA approvals to date. Updating this technology to meet new antibody therapeutic modality needs has resulted in the creation of the novel and differentiated Atlas™ Mice antibody platform which is poised to address the evolving antibody therapeutics market. Dan has an established background and publication record in transgenic methodologies and G-protein coupled receptors, and he is recognized throughout the industry for his leadership of therapeutic discovery campaigns.

Catherine-Kara
Head of IP

Catherine Kara, PhD, JD

Experience:

Independent IP Consultant, Kara Patents
Chief Patent Counsel, Medarex, Inc. 
Associate, Lahive & Cockfield, LLP

Catherine is the Head of IP at AbTherx. She has over 25 years of experience in strategic and supervisory roles for intellectual property management in both law firm and in-house positions, including over 15 years providing IP consultancy in a wide range of biotechnology fields. Her technical background is in immunology, and she has been involved in the development of IP protection for immunotherapeutic approaches from the earliest fully human antibodies. She has extensive expertise in patent portfolio development and prosecution, IP considerations for early-stage companies, and strategic IP advice in the immunotherapy space. 

 Catherine received a PhD from Harvard University, a JD from Suffolk University Law School, and a BSc from McGill University. 

viktoriya-dubrovskaya
Director of Antibody Discovery

Viktoriya Dubrovskaya, PhD

Experience:

Associate Director, Amunix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a Sanofi Company
Principal Scientist, Zai Lab
Specialist, OHSU Knight Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center
Staff Scientist, The Scripps Research Institute

Viktoriya is the Director of Antibody Discovery at AbTherx. She is an innovative scientist with an extensive background in antibody discovery, immuno-oncology, infectious diseases, vaccine design, and preclinical drug development. In her most recent role at Amunix Pharmaceuticals, Viktoriya served as the Associate Director of the Discovery Group where she led the preclinical program for conditionally activated T-cell engagers. Viktoriya’s skillset includes protein engineering, phage display, single B-cell cloning, antigen generation (including GPCRs), T-cell engager optimization, and NGS sequencing.

Viktoriya received her PhD from the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology in Koltsovo, Russia and her MS from Novosibirsk State University in Novosibirsk, Russia.

Website headshot_Pallavi
Head of Preclinical R&D Strategy

Pallavi Tawde, PhD

Experience:

Chief Technology Officer, Vicero Bio
Novasenta, Vice President, Antibody Therapeutics
TrueBinding, Senior Director, Antibody Therapeutics
Denali Therapeutics, Head, Antibody Discovery
Bristol Myers Squibb, Senior Scientist, Biologics Lead Discovery
Pfizer, Senior Scientist, Global Biotherapeutics Technologies

Dr. Tawde brings over two decades of extensive biotherapeutics drug discovery experience in the biopharma industry, having held key scientific positions at leading companies including Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Denali Therapeutics, TrueBinding, and Novasenta. Her expertise spans discovery and development of multiple biotherapeutics, including pioneering antibody discovery technologies for challenging targets (GPCRs, ion channels, and high homology targets) and drug product development for various therapeutic modalities (monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, protein fusions, ADC, and VHH). Her work has significantly impacted a wide range of therapeutic areas, including immuno-oncology, autoimmune, infectious diseases and neurodegeneration.

Throughout her biopharma career, Dr. Tawde has consistently demonstrated operational excellence, focusing on implementing disruptive technologies, building high-performing teams, project leadership, and strategic vision for building biotherapeutics pipelines.

Dr. Tawde holds a PhD in cell and molecular immunology from Florida State University and has authored numerous publications in the field of biopharmaceutical research. Her contributions have been recognized with several awards, highlighting her dedication to advancing scientific knowledge and therapeutic strategies.

Our Team’s Successful Drugs Include

  • COSENTYX® (secukinumab)
  • DARZALEX® (daratumumab)
  • ILARIS® (canakinumab)
  • KESIMPTA® (ofatumumab)
  • LARTRUVO® (olaratumab)
  • OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
  • RABISHIELD
  • SAPHNELO™ (anifrolumab-fnia)
  • SIMPONI® (golimumab)
  • STELARA® (ustekinumab)
  • TEPEZZA® (teprotumumab-trbw)
  • YERVOY® (ipilimumab)
  • ZINPLAVA™ (bezlotoxumab)

Business Leadership

Since 2016, our core team has worked together to successfully commercialize innovative technologies at DiscoverX and AlivaMab Biologics.

Website headshot_Justin
Chief Executive Officer

Justin Mika, MBA, MS

Experience:

Entrepreneur In Residence, University Health Network
Board Member, PhenoVista
CEO, AlivaMab Discovery Services
SVP, Eurofins
SVP and Chief Commercial Lead, DiscoverX (acquired by Eurofins)

Justin is the Chief Executive Officer of AbTherx. He has served in executive and advisory roles in biotechnology, drug discovery platform, and healthcare investment organizations for over 15 years. His most recent position was CEO of AlivaMab Discovery Services (ADS), where he led the organization through a period of rapid growth. Before ADS, Justin was the Senior Vice President of the Eurofins Drug Discovery division, where his scope included leading strategy across nine global sites, innovation, and M&A. Before Eurofins, Justin led the Drug Discovery Service division of DiscoverX, including the acquisitions of Ambit Bioscience’s KINOMEscan platform and Asterand’s BioSeek platform. In 2017, DiscoverX was acquired by Eurofins.

Justin received his MBA and MS from the University of Delaware and his BSc from Penn State University.

Brian-Conn
Chief Financial Officer

Brian Conn

 Experience:

CFO, Ra Medical Systems (NYSE:RMED)
CFO, Switchback Systems
CFO, Quantapore, Inc.
CFO, Imagion BioSystems (ASX:IBX)
Co-founder and CFO, Pyrone Systems
CFO, Verdezyne
Board Member, Biosensis

Brian Conn is the Chief Financial Officer of AbTherx. He has over 20 years of experience as the CFO of numerous public and private biotech companies, spanning all areas of life sciences. During his career, Brian has raised over $300 million in capital and completed more than 20 M&A deals. Brian is an advisor/CFO to several early-stage biotech companies and is a co-founder of the synthetic biology startup, Pyrone Systems. Before AbTherx, Brian completed the merger between Ra Medical Systems (NYSE: RMED) and Catheter Precision. In 2017, he successfully listed Imagion Biosystems (ASX:IBX) on the Australian Stock Exchange and helped organize the company’s first clinical trial, which was completed in 2022. From 2011 to 2016, Brian was the CFO of Verdezyne, a San Diego synthetic biology company where he secured funding and negotiated contracts for a large-scale project in Malaysia.

stacy-borders
Marketing and Communications Strategist

Stacey Borders

Experience:

Global Marketing Manager, BD
Market Development Partner, AlivaMab Discovery Services
Director of Marketing, Tonbo Biosciences
Events and Digital Marketing Manager, Eurofins DiscoverX
Product Manager, eBioscience, an Affymetrix company

Stacey is the Marketing and Communications Strategist at AbTherx. She has over 10 years of experience in the biotech industry where her scope has included global marketing, digital marketing, business development, product marketing, and event management. Previously, Stacey worked as Market Development Partner for AlivaMab Discovery Services where she contributed to the company’s marketing efforts. Prior, Stacey served as Director of Marketing at Tonbo Biosciences, where she developed and executed the commercial marketing strategy and managed the business development and sales teams. Stacey spent over 5 years in various marketing roles at eBioscience, an Affymetrix company early in her career.

Stacey received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of San Diego.

Scientific Advisory Board

Our advisory board has deep expertise in developing antibody drugs and multispecifics for a wide range of challenging targets at Genmab, Regeneron, Stanford, and MIT.

janine-schuurman
Scientific Advisor

Janine Schuurman, PhD

Experience:

President, The Antibody Society
Advisor, Bioqube Ventures
Scientific Advisory Board member, Cartography Biosciences
Independent Biotech Consultant, Lust for Life Science B.V.
Senior Vice President, Genmab

Dr. Schuurman’s career centers around the antibody molecule as a biological source of inspiration and therapeutic modality. Dr. Schuurman joined Genmab’s R&D team in 2000 as one of the first scientists—her most recent position being Senior Vice President heading Genmab’s Antibody Research and Technologies. She is a co-inventor of many therapeutic antibodies and of the DuoBody®, HexaBody®, and HexElect® technologies, which enable the generation of bispecific and effector-function enhanced antibodies. These technologies are being applied to antibody therapeutic discovery programs at leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide and have resulted in FDA-approved therapies such as RYBREVANT® (amivantamab), EPKINLY® (epcoritamab), TECVAYLY® (teclistamab), and TALVEY® (talquatamab). Dr. Schuurman has championed many successful academic and industry partnerships in antibody therapeutics and complementary research fields.

Dr. Schuurman joined The Antibody Society’s Board of Directors in 2020 and currently serves as President of this international, non-profit trade association which represents individuals and organizations involved in antibody-related research and development. Dr. Schuurman is frequently invited to serve as a speaker, as well as a chair, at scientific conferences around the world due to her vision, impactful scientific publication track record, and dynamic presentations. She received her PhD in immunology from the University of Amsterdam. Dr. Schuurman is currently an independent biotech consultant (Lust for Life Science B.V.) and collaborates with many organizations, including Bioqube Ventures and Cartography Biosciences.

gavin-thurston
Scientific Advisor

Gavin Thurston, PhD

Experience:

SVP Oncology Research, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Gavin is a Scientific Advisor at AbTherx. He spent the last 22 years of his career at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, his most recent position being SVP of Oncology Research. Gavin has authored over 150 publications and is the inventor on over 50 US patents and ongoing patent applications. His efforts at Regeneron led to the successful clinical development of LIBTAYO® and ongoing late-stage clinical testing of several other antibodies and bispecific antibodies. In addition to his advisory role at AbTherx, Gavin is also doing consulting work on several other antibody and bispecifc projects. 

Gavin earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in biophysics from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and a postdoctoral research fellowship in tumor vasculature at CRC Gray Laboratory, London, England.

jessica-stark
Scientific Advisor

Jessica Stark, PhD

Experience:

Assistant Professor and Underwood Prescott Career Development Chair, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Co-founder, BioBits®
Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University
PhD, Northwestern University

Dr. Stark’s career is marked by her pioneering work in developing biological technologies to unlock the vast potential of cell-surface sugars, known as glycans, for immunological discovery and immunotherapy. Glycans form a protective layer on the surface of every cell, influencing immunological processes. Despite their significance, drug developers’ ability to identify the specific glycans that regulate immune responses and design targeted therapies remains limited. Dr. Stark’s lab is at the forefront of efforts to comprehend and manipulate the roles of glycans in the immune system, aiming to 1) bridge crucial gaps in immunobiology and 2) forge the path for next-generation immunotherapies.

As a postdoctoral fellow with Nobel Laureate, Professor Carolyn Bertozzi at Stanford University, Jessica’s work focused on identifying and targeting glycans. She is a co-inventor of antibody-lectin chimeras (AbLecs), a modular platform for glyco-immune checkpoint blockade. She received her PhD in chemical and biological engineering with Professor Michael Jewett at Northwestern University. Dr. Stark is currently an Assistant Professor in the departments of Biological and Chemical Engineering at MIT and an intramural faculty member in MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.

Partnering

Industry Validated, Proprietary Platform

Over 40 programs initiated with over a dozen partners on a platform developed by industry-leading experts in transgenic mice. AbTherx delivers high quality antibody leads for simple to complex targets and modalities, with a strong IP position.

Proven Expertise

Our team of scientific pioneers have extensive expertise in antibody discovery, transgenic mouse development, immunogen design, and challenging drug targets, resulting in over 1,000 successful campaigns and 13 marketed therapeutics.

Agile and Accessible Terms

We will work with you to develop a partnership structure that meets your needs. We offer flexible models, including a traditional licensing structure or single-payment options with no royalties or milestones.

Contact us to explore how AbTherx can power your next antibody discovery program.

Flexible Access

AbTherx offers customized engagement models to support academic innovators, biotech startups, and established pharma companies:

  • Platform Transfer: Order Atlas Mice globally for in-house discovery programs through The Jackson Laboratory
  • Outsourced Discovery: Work with approved CROs for full-service antibody discovery
  • Strategic Collaborations: Work with AbTherx to co-develop new assets, access early-stage technologies, and advance structure-based discovery
jackson-lab-logo-sized
ab-solutions-logo-sized
ipa-logo
genovac-logo-sized
single-cell-logo-sized

News

May 13, 2025

AbTherx, Single Cell Technology, and Vaccinex Announce Collaboration to Tackle...

AbTherx and Single Cell Technology incorporate ActivMAb® Technology into Atlas™ Mouse and AbTheneum™ antibody discovery platforms Mountain View, Calif. – May 13, 2025... Read More »

May 12, 2025

AbTherx and Spice Biotechnologies Announce Multi-Program Antibody Discovery Collaboration

Immuno-oncology pioneer partners with AbTherx to build the next generation of immunotherapy drugs Mountain View, Calif. – May 12, 2025 – AbTherx, Inc., a biotechnolog... Read More »

April 23, 2025

AbTherx and Rondo Therapeutics Announce Multi-Program Antibody Discovery Collaboration

Partnership leverages AbTherx’s Atlas™ Binary Fixed Light Chain Mouse to accelerate Rondo’s pipeline of bispecific antibodies Mountain View, Calif. – April 23, 2025 –... Read More »

October 31, 2024

AbTherx and Gilead Expand Collaboration on Innovative Antibody Discovery Technologies

Expanded agreement includes development of additional transgenic mouse technologies and performance of additional therapeutic antibody research programs Foster City, ... Read More »

July 17, 2024

AbTherx Appoints Pallavi Tawde, PhD, as Head of Preclinical R&D...

Former Pfizer, BMS, and Denali scientific leader to lead expansion of antibody discovery, preclinical development, and early clinical capabilities Foster City, Calif.... Read More »

View All News

Careers

Join Our Team!

At AbTherx, we are innovators and inventors committed to supporting your career and growth goals. We are a dynamic early-stage company seeking passionate, driven team members with experience in transgenic technologies, in vivo antibody discovery, and antibody engineering to help us create new cures. If you are interested in helping build a transformative research company, please submit your resume to info@abtherx.com.

Contact

Join the Leaders in Next-gen Antibody Discovery

CONTACT
info@abtherx.com

319 N. Bernardo Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043

abtherx-logo-wht