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CD137 Targeted Therapy Market Opportunity, Therapeutic Approaches, Technology Development Platforms & Clinical Trials Insight 2026

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    Report

  • 270 Pages
  • January 2026
  • Region: Global
  • Kuick Research
  • ID: 6216442
UP TO OFF until Feb 15th 2026

Market Poised for First Commercial Launch by 2030 as Clinical Pipeline Surpasses 90 Active Programs

Report Highlights:

  • First CD137 Targeted Therapy Commercial Launch Expected by 2030
  • Insight on CD137 Targeted Therapies in Clinical Trials: > 90 Therapies
  • CD137 Targeted Therapies Clinical Trials Insight by Company, Country, Indication and Phase
  • Highest Clinical Trials Phase: Phase III
  • CD137 Targeted Therapies Proprietary Technology Platforms by Companies
  • Global & Regional Trends (Clinical & Commercial)
  • Therapeutic Approaches for Targeting CD137

CD137 Targeted Therapies Need & Why This Report?

CD137 or 4-1BB, is a co-stimulatory receptor important for T-cell activation, survival, and expansion. It is also recognized for playing a critical role in augmenting anti-tumor immune responses, hence becoming one of the most valued targets in cancer immunotherapy. Notwithstanding recent progress made in immune oncology, current treatments such as chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors have some shortcomings regarding their efficacy among patients, especially those with solid tumors. CD137 targeting therapies can bridge these gaps through the direct stimulation of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, leveraging the body to better combat cancer.

The report covers the increasing enthusiasm for CD137-targeted therapies, underlining the details of ongoing clinical trials, emerging technologies, and identifying companies that are driving the innovation process. It underlines the therapeutic potential of CD137 modulation in oncology: from describing progress made at different stages of clinical development to outlining the competitive and scientific landscape forming the future for various CD137-targeted treatment strategies.

Clinical Studies & Trials Insight Included in the Report

The report provides comprehensive insights into the ongoing clinical studies and trials for CD137 targeted therapies, enabling stakeholders to take a clear view of the therapeutic progress of this field. An analysis is provided of various clinical stages that range from early-phase trials to more advanced studies. These trials involve research into a range of indications, with particular attention to solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Ongoing combination therapy trials are also discussed, concerned with the investigation into how agents targeting CD137 may act in concert with chemotherapies or other immunotherapies-including PD-1 or VEGF inhibitors-to improve overall efficacy. This review also identifies the emerging clinical data and assesses the safety and efficacy profiles of CD137-targeted therapies, providing critical insight into the way forward for these therapies.

Technology Platforms Included in the Report

The report further profiles technology platforms driving innovations in CD137 targeted therapy development. Examples include AP Biosciences' T-cube, a platform enabling the creation of bispecific antibodies that selectively activate T-cells through CD137 only upon binding to tumor-specific antigens. This specificity offers the promise of minimal off-target toxicities, such as cytokine storms, common with other immune therapies. These technology platforms represent a quantum leap in cancer immunotherapy by providing an enabling environment for more targeted, safer, and probably more effective therapies. The report provides an overview of such platforms and assesses their implications for future CD137 targeted therapies.

Leading Companies Involved in R&D of CD137 Targeted Therapies

Established pharmaceutical giants and emerging biotech companies both lead in the development of CD137 targeted therapies. Major players such as Roche, Genmab, and Sichuan Baili Pharmaceutical are actively advancing their CD137-targeting therapies in clinical trials. Smaller firms like ABL Bio and Pieris Pharmaceuticals continue to bring in diversity into the research landscape by exploring novel bispecific antibodies and delivery systems. This report describes those key companies, insights into their pipelines and strategies, and the progress of their CD137 targeted therapies in order to give a clear picture of the competitive landscape in this rapidly evolving field.

Report Indicating the Future Direction of CD137 Targeted Therapies

Looking ahead, the report comprehensively analyzes the future direction of CD137 targeted therapies. The landscape is continuously evolving, with new innovations likely to overcome some of the existing challenges related to immune resistance and side effects such as cytokine release syndrome. Furthermore, combination therapies that combine CD137 agonists with other immune checkpoint inhibitors or targeted treatments offer significant potential for overcoming limitations observed in monotherapies. In the context of ongoing clinical trials and the emergence of new data, the role of CD137 targeted therapies is likely to be increasingly important in cancer treatment. This report provides key insights into these emerging trends, enabling stakeholders to anticipate the future direction of this promising field and its likely impact on the oncology landscape.

Table of Contents


1. Research Methodology
2. Brief Introduction to CD137
2.1 Clinical Overview
2.2 Biological History of CD137
2.3 CD137 Hosting an Era of Agonists Over Antagonists
2.4 Bi-Directional Signaling in CD137

3. Global CD137 Targeted Therapy Market Outlook
3.1 Current Research & Market Scenario
3.2 Future Commercialization Opportunities

4. CD137 Targeted Therapy Clinical Innovation Trends by Region
4.1 China
4.2 South Korea
4.3 US
4.4 Europe
4.5 Australia

5. CD137 Role & Clinical Progress by Indication
5.1 Cancer
5.1.1 Leukemia
5.1.2 Lymphoma
5.1.3 Lung Cancer
5.1.4 Melanoma
5.1.5 Breast Cancer
5.1.6 Colorectal Cancer
5.2 Autoimmune & Inflammatory Diseases
5.3 Microbial Infections
5.4 Neuronal Diseases

6. Global CD137 Targeted Therapies Clinical Trials Overview
6.1 by Company
6.2 by Country
6.3 by Indication
6.4 by Phase

7. CD137 Targeted Therapies Clinical Trials Insight by Company, Country, Indication & Phase
7.1 Research
7.2 Preclinical
7.3 Phase I
7.4 Phase I/II
7.5 Phase II
7.6 Phase III

8. CD137 Targeted Therapy Proprietary Technology Platforms by Companies
9. Therapeutic Approaches for Targeting CD137
9.1 Antibodies
9.1.1 Monoclonal antibodies
9.1.2 Bispecific Antibody Centered Approaches
9.1.3 Trispecific Antibody Established Strategies
9.1.4 Tetraspecific Antibody Strategies
9.1.5 Single-chain variable fragments
9.2 Peptides
9.3 Protein-Based Therapeutics

10. Combination Therapies with CD137 Targeted Therapy
11. Competitive Landscape
11.1 ABL Bio
11.2 Adagene
11.3 Alligator Bioscience
11.4 BeOne Medicines
11.5 Bicycle Therapeutics
11.6 BioNTech
11.7 Crescendo Biologics
11.8 Compass Therapeutics
11.9 Eutilex
11.10 F-star Therapeutics
11.11 Genmab
11.12 NovaBridge Biosciences
11.13 Kyinno Biotechnology
11.14 Lyvgen Biopharma
11.15 Obsidian Therapeutics
11.16 OriCell Therapeutics
11.17 Palvella Therapeutics
11.18 Shanghai Henlius Biotech
11.19 Sichuan Baili Pharmaceutical
11.20 SystImmune

List of Tables
Table 2-1: CD137 Expression Across Cell Types
Table 2-2: Comparison of Antagonistic vs Agonistic Immunotherapies
Table 5-1: Lymphoma - Clinical Trials Underway for GNC-038 & GNC-035
Table 9-1: Some Bispecific Antibodies Targeting CD137 in Development
Table 9-2: Some Trispecific Antibodies Targeting CD137 in Development
Table 9-3: Some Tetraspecific Antibodies Targeting CD137 in Development
Table 10-1: Ongoing Clinical Trials Evaluating CD137 Antibody Combinations

List of Figures
Figure 2-1: Evolution of Cancer Immunotherapy Approaches
Figure 2-2: Biological Effects Triggered by CD137 Stimulation
Figure 2-3: CD137 - Discovery & Early Biological Characterization
Figure 2-4: Mechanistic Pathways Triggered by CD137 Ligation
Figure 2-5: Anti-CD137 Monoclonal Antibody - Immune Regulation Mechanisms
Figure 2-6: Why CD137 Became An Important Target
Figure 2-7: Schematic Depiction of Bidirectional Signaling by CD137-CD137L
Figure 2-8: CD137 - Forward Signaling Cascade in Immune Cells
Figure 2-9: CD137L - Reverse Signaling
Figure 2-10: Bidirectional Signaling Loop Between CD137 & CD137L
Figure 3-1: Global CD137 Targeting Therapy Market - Future Opportunities
Figure 5-1: Bidirectional CD137-CD137L Signaling in Leukemia Cell Survival
Figure 5-2: GNC-035-105 Phase Ib/II (NCT05944978) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-3: GNC-035-105 Phase I (NCT05944978) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-4: GNC-038-101 Phase I (NCT04606433) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-5: Lymphoma - CD137’s Role in Countering Immune Evasion
Figure 5-6: BP41072 Phase I/II (NCT04077723) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-7: YH004003 Phase I (NCT05564806) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-8: IBD0333-101 Phase I/II (NCT06292208) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-9: Lung Cancer - Rationale for Targeting CD137
Figure 5-10: BT7480-100 Phase I/II (NCT05163041) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-11: GCT1046-04 Phase 2 (NCT05117242) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-12: HLX35-FIH101 Phase I (NCT05360381) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-13: EU-CTS101-I-01 Phase I/II (NCT04903873) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-14: Melanoma - CD137 as a Costimulatory Driver of Disease Immunity
Figure 5-15: FS222-19101 Phase I (NCT04740424) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-16: LBL-024-CN007 Phase I/II (NCT07099430) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-17: ABBIL1TY MELANOMA-07 Phase II (NCT06984328) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-18: Breast Cancer - Dual Role of CD137 in Disease Biology
Figure 5-19: BT7480-100 Phase I/II (NCT05163041) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-20: AP402-101 Phase I/II (NCT06669975) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-21: AVIATOR Phase 2 (NCT03414658) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-22: ADG106-T6002 Phase 1/2 (NCT05275777) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-23: YH32367-101 Phase I/II (NCT05523947) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-24: GNC-035-103 Phase I (NCT05160545) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-25: EU-CTS101-I-01 Phase I/II (NCT04903873) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-26: NCI-2018-01036 Phase 1 (NCT03290937) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-27: 1002-CL-0101 Phase I (NCT05719558) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-28: BNT314-02 Phase I/II (NCT07079631) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-29: CD137 - Dual Role in Immune Regulation
Figure 5-30: Microbial Infections - CD137 Expression & Immune Roles
Figure 5-31: CD137 in Neuroinflammation
Figure 6-1: Global - CD137 Targeted Therapies Clinical Pipeline by Company (Numbers), 2026
Figure 6-2: Global - CD137 Targeted Therapies Clinical Pipeline by Country (Numbers), 2026
Figure 6-3: Global - CD137 Targeted Therapies Clinical Pipeline by Indication (Numbers), 2026
Figure 6-4: Global - CD137 Targeted Therapies Clinical Pipeline by Phase (Numbers), 2026
Figure 8-1: Adagene - Anti CD137 NEObody ACG106
Figure 8-2: Adagene - Anti CD137 POWERbody ADG206
Figure 8-3: Genmab - DUObody Production Process
Figure 8-4: Genmab - DUObody Platform Detail
Figure 8-5: Crescendo Biologics - Humabody Structure
Figure 8-6: CB307 Humabody - Structure
Figure 8-7: Numab Therapeutics - MATCH Format
Figure 8-8: NM21-1480 - Structure
Figure 8-9: Systimmune - GNC-039 Structure
Figure 8-10: Systimmune - GNC-035 Structure
Figure 8-11: Systimmune - GNC-038 Structure
Figure 8-12: Merus - Multiclonics Structure
Figure 8-13: Chugai Pharmabody Research - Dual-Ig® Technology
Figure 8-14: Eutilex - Costim Platform Technology
Figure 8-15: aND-Body - Ampersand Biomedicines
Figure 8-16: X-body Platform - Leads Biolabs
Figure 8-17: T-cube Bispecific Antibody Platform - AP Biosciences
Figure 8-18: Grabody-T - ABL Bio
Figure 8-19: LEAD-452 Trimerbody - Structure
Figure 9-1: ATOR-1017 - Mechanism of Action
Figure 9-2: EU101 - Mode of Action
Figure 9-3: LVGN6051 - Mechanism of Action
Figure 9-4: Ragistomig - Structure & Mechanism of Action
Figure 9-5: FS120 - Improving PD-1 & Chemotherapy Responses
Figure 9-6: FS222 - Structure
Figure 9-7: FS222 - Mechanism of Action
Figure 9-8: MP0310 - Mechanism of Action
Figure 9-9: CD137 Targeting GNC Tetraspecific Antibodies
Figure 9-10: CD137 Targeting Peptide - Mechanism
Figure 9-11: CD137 Targeting Fusion Protein - Conditional Activation Design

Companies Mentioned (Partial List)

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:

  • ABL Bio
  • Adagene
  • Alligator Bioscience
  • BeOne Medicines
  • Bicycle Therapeutics
  • BioNTech
  • Compass Therapeutics
  • Crescendo Biologics
  • Eutilex
  • F-star Therapeutics
  • Genmab
  • Kyinno Biotechnology
  • Lyvgen Biopharma
  • NovaBridge Biosciences
  • Obsidian Therapeutics
  • OriCell Therapeutics
  • Palvella Therapeutics
  • Shanghai Henlius Biotech
  • Sichuan Baili Pharmaceutical
  • SystImmune