Revolutionizing the Prediction of Antibody Therapies in Humans with a Unique Mouse Model

Lyon, France – February 23, 2026 – Antibody therapies are changing the treatment of cancer, inflammatory diseases and infections. However, many promising drug candidates fail in clinical trials. A new study published in Science Immunology shows that genOway’s new mouse model, genO-hFcγR, could change that by allowing researchers to predict efficacy and safety of therapeutic antibodies more accurately.

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Why Antibody Therapies Fail in Late-Stage Testing

Antibody therapies work in part by binding to Fcγ receptors, proteins found on immune cells that control key immune functions such as antibody-mediated cell killing and inflammation. Since these receptors are different between species, human therapies tested in standard laboratory mice give unreliable efficacy results or miss potential safety risks. These discrepancies contribute to costly late-stage failures and delays in bringing new therapies to patients.

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A New Mouse Model with Humanized Fcγ Receptors Set to Become a Gamechanger

A new study published in Science Immunology showed that an innovative mouse model developed by genOway, genO-hFcγR, helps scientists better predict the efficacy and safety of therapeutic antibodies in humans. The model allows scientists to rank different antibody candidates by how they are likely to perform, measure how effectively they target specific immune cells, and evaluate their potential to slow disease progression. This provides researchers critical early information to guide decision making and accelerate drug development.

• Watch the video on genO-hFcγR mice here
• Read the publication here

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A Complex Scientific Challenge Achieved Through International Collaboration

Because Fcγ receptors are highly species-specific, creating this model was a complex scientific challenge that required expertise in multiple fields, including mouse genetic engineering, antibody biology, and human immunology.

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The achievement was made possible through an international consortium of leading biopharmaceutical partners, led by genOway, who combined their knowledge to co-develop and co-validate the genO-hFcγR mouse model. Consortium members included genOway (France), a company specializing in developing highly predictive preclinical models; argenx (Belgium), a pioneer in Fc-engineering and FcRn biology; Innate Pharma (France), a leader in natural killer cell-based immunotherapies; and Vir Biotechnology (USA), focused on the development of immunotherapies; among other members. The group collaborated with VIB-Ghent University (Belgium), a leading immunology institute, to publish the study in Science Immunology. In this study, scientists at VIB-Ghent University mapped Fc receptor expression and regulation to illustrate how the new mouse model could be used to better model human disease, and coordinated the publication of the work.

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A Unique Solution Available for the Scientific Community

The genO‑hFcγR model builds on a previous mouse model developed in 2008 by genOway and its scientific partners, in which multiple FcγR genes were humanized. Since its launch to the scientific community in 2024, genO-hFcγR has been adopted to advance preclinical programs of biopharmaceutical companies and nonprofit organizations, including the Gates Foundation, as one of the foundation’s global health research initiatives.

• Read the press release about the Gates Foundation here

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About genOway

genOway is a biotechnology company that provides highly predictive preclinical models and solutions to biopharmaceutical companies, CROs and academic institutions to bridge the gap between preclinical findings and clinical success.