Harbour BioMed Expands Stake in Spruce Biosciences, Solidifying Strategic Alliance in Antibody Therapeutics
Harbour BioMed, a global biopharmaceutical player with a focus on immunology and oncology, has exercised a warrant to acquire common stock in Spruce Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRB). This move, effective January 18, 2026, increases Harbour BioMed’s ownership in Spruce to approximately 3.8% of total outstanding shares and 3.1% of fully diluted shares. This transaction deepens the strategic collaboration between the two companies, moving beyond a conventional licensor-licensee dynamic to a more integrated partnership aimed at accelerating the development of novel antibody therapies.
The warrant originated from a license and collaboration agreement between Harbour BioMed’s subsidiary, HBM Alpha Therapeutics (HBMAT), and Spruce Biosciences. HBMAT, an incubator established by Harbour BioMed, is advancing SPR202, a promising anti-corticotropin-releasing hormone monoclonal antibody. This antibody holds potential for treating conditions such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Dr. Jingsong Wang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Harbour BioMed, highlighted the significance of this warrant exercise. “This represents a pivotal moment in our engagement with Spruce Biosciences,” Dr. Wang stated. “It transitions our relationship from a typical licensor-licensee model to a genuinely aligned strategic partnership, underscoring our shared commitment to expedite the delivery of groundbreaking therapies to patients worldwide.”
The expansion of Harbour BioMed’s equity in Spruce Biosciences suggests a growing conviction in the therapeutic potential of SPR202 and the synergistic value of their collaboration. For Spruce, this strengthens its relationship with a key strategic partner, potentially facilitating further research and development milestones.
Harbour BioMed’s proprietary antibody technology platform, Harbour Mice®, is central to its drug discovery efforts. This platform is capable of generating fully human monoclonal antibodies in both conventional H2L2 and heavy chain-only (HCAb) formats. Building on HCAb antibodies, the company has developed HBICE® (Harbour Bispecifics Inhibitor for Cell Engagement) bispecific antibody technology, designed to induce potent anti-tumor effects that may surpass those of conventional combination therapies. Furthermore, its HBICA™ (Harbour Bispecifics Inhibitor for Cell Antagonism) technology is geared towards developing novel biologics for immunological and inflammatory diseases. The integration of Harbour Mice®, HBICE®, and HBICA™ with a single B-cell cloning platform positions Harbour BioMed as a highly efficient antibody discovery engine for next-generation therapeutics.
The increased stake by Harbour BioMed in Spruce Biosciences may also signal potential future co-development or co-commercialization opportunities, a common strategy in the biopharmaceutical industry to share risks and leverage complementary expertise. Investors will likely be watching for further updates on the clinical progress of SPR202 and the broader implications of this strengthened alliance.
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