Adimanebart Case Study: An Agonist Antibody for Neuromuscular Disease Treatment
Co-creating an unconventional pathway to activate MuSK.
Adimanebart is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed (mAb) to activate muscle-specific kinase (MuSK), a critical regulator of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) stability and function. Discovered through the proprietary SIMPLE Antibody™ platform and advanced within the IIP, adimanebart is the result of true co-creation: bringing together argenx antibody engineering expertise with the insights of leading academic scientists. Inspired by patient-derived antibodies in MuSK myasthenia gravis (MG) that revealed the potential of dual-arm MuSK activation, adimanebart embodies the IIP model of innovation, collaboration, and discovery—pioneering a new therapeutic pathway in neuromuscular and autoimmune disease treatment.
Featured Voices
Maartje Huijbers, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor and Research Group Leader at Leiden University Medical Center
Adimanebart Collaborator
Maartje G. Huijbers, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Research Group Leader in the Department of Human Genetics and Neurology at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), where she has also served as Vice Dean of Research since 2025. Her research centered on MuSK biology, and her work was instrumental in the collaboration that ultimately brought about the development of adimanebart.
Roeland Vanhauwaert, Ph.D.,
Scientific Asset Lead of the Adimanebart Program
argenx
Roeland Vanhauwaert, Ph.D., is a Principal Scientist II at argenx with a background in neurodegeneration and neuromuscular biology. He has been Scientific Lead for adimanebart since 2019.
Steve Burden, Ph.D.,
Senior Lecturer, Neurology Department
Massachusetts General Hospital
adimanebart Collaboratorr
Steve Burden, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer at Harvard University and a pioneer in the biology of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). His research was key to identifying MuSK and understanding its functions. That work, together with his collaboration with argenx, ultimately led to adimanebart.
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argenx fosters genuine partnerships with academic institutions and experts, focusing on co-creation to accelerate discovery processes to bring solutions to patients who need them. Learn more about the IIP and collaboration the argenx way today.
For more information on partnering opportunities, please contact IIP@argenx.com.
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