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Bispecific Antibody Architecture and TNFRSF Target Selection Determine CD8+ T Cell Differentiation and Anti-tumour Immunity

Preprint Created on 25 Jun 2026 bioRxiv

Tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF)-targeting bispecific antibodies (bsAb) enable tumour-localised T cell co-stimulation, yet how antibody architecture and receptor choice govern activity remains unclear. Here we define how bsAb format and TNFRSF target selection shape CD8+ T cell responses and anti-tumour immunity. Using B7-H3 as a tumour-associated antigen, we show that dual-bivalent 2x2 bsAb elicit maximal agonistic activity, whereas the corresponding monovalent 1x1 format is least active. A 2x1 format retaining TNFRSF bivalency but monovalent B7-H3 binding preserves substantial activity, identifying co-stimulatory receptor bivalency as a key determinant of efficacy. Across TNFRSF targets, 4-1BB drives the strongest cytotoxic CD8+ T cell differentiation and anti-tumour response. This superiority is conserved in human T cells and reproduced by cognate ligands, indicating that the observed functional hierarchy reflects receptor-intrinsic biology. Mechanistically, efficacy requires tumour-associated B7-H3 and T cell-dependent 4-1BB signalling. Together, these findings establish general principles linking antibody architecture and receptor biology to co-stimulatory bsAb efficacy and provide a framework for rational design leading to optimal therapeutics.

Widdess, M. A., Wilkinson, L., Metcalfe, H. J., Pakidi, A., Chan, H. C., Kim, J., Inzhelevskaya, T., Turaj, A., Lim, S. H., Thirdborough, S. M., Beers, S. A., Cragg, M. S., Al-Shamkhani, A.

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