Janssen Pharmaceutica NV gained a worldwide license to develop and commercialize the radioenhancer NBTXR-3, from Paris-based Nanobiotix, in a deal that includes $60 million in near-term payments and $2.67 billion in potential milestone payments. NBTXR-3 is in a phase III pivotal study to treat locally advanced head and neck cancer and is being studied in combination with PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic cancers. Janssen will hold rights everywhere except for Asian countries previously licensed to Lianbio Co. Ltd.

Beigene taps Duality in potential $1.3B deal for preclinical ADC candidate

Beigene Ltd. is the latest firm drawn to Duality Biologics Co. Ltd.’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform, inking a potential $1.3 billion deal in exchange for an exclusive global option to a preclinical ADC targeting select solid tumors. Beigene has extended efforts into ADCs, with ongoing construction of an ADC production facility. For Duality, meanwhile, the agreement marks its second billion-dollar opportunity this year, following a potential $1.7 billion deal with Biontech SE in April.

PD-1 synergies a hot idea; TIGIT in play, plus Carisma with CAR macrophage bid

Finding ways to turn “cold” tumors “hot” remains an ambition pursued by drug developers with differing approaches – combination regimens hold particular appeal – and one up-and-comer in the effort that has gained the notice of Wall Street lately is Carisma Therapeutics Inc. Deals have rolled out in the TIGIT space, too, with parties hoping that drugs in the class will prove useful alongside PD-1 inhibitors. Gilead Sciences Inc. signed a contract with Arcus Biosciences Inc. in 2020. Bristol Myers Squibb Co. joined forces with Agenus Inc. the following year, which is also when Glaxosmithkline plc made its TIGIT deal with Iteos Therapeutics Inc.

Transcenta’s osemitamab on track for pivotal gastric cancer trials in Korea, China

China’s Center for Drug Evaluation and South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety cleared Transcenta Holdings to begin phase III pivotal trials of osemitamab (TST-001) in combination with nivolumab and chemotherapy for first-line treatment of HER2-negative, Claudin 18.2 expressing locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer. Transtar 301 is a global randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial, and the company is in discussions with U.S. and European regulators to include additional sites in the U.S. and Europe, said Transcenta’s Chief Medical Officer Caroline Germa.

Psych Symposium 2023: Psychedelics pique investor interest but not funding

Institutional investors are not in the market for now, but a survey of 104 firms on both sides of the Atlantic shows all but 6% have an interest in psychedelic medicines. However, only 23% say they are “very likely” to invest in the sector in the future, whilst the majority are sitting on the fence. The reasons for this vary between the U.S. and the U.K., but they include negative media coverage, long investment cycles, the quality of management teams, a lack of liquidity and, as things stand, a lack of attention from pharma companies. None of these objections is unreasonable, and addressing them is “within reach,” said Ariadna Peretz, of the media relations company FTI Consulting, which carried out the survey.

Also in the news

28 Bio, Apogee, Axsome, Bioarctic, Biorestorative, Biosenic, Brainstorm Cell, Elsie, Epicentrx, Evelo, Eyepoint, FSD, Fulcrum, Genother, GSK, Hillstream, Ichnos, Innovent, Intensity, Ips Heart, Maxcyte, MBX, Melinta, Normunity, Novartis, Novavax, Novo Nordisk, NS, Nymox, Opthea, Paratek, Recode, Remegen, Replicate, Resolution, Sagimet, Switch, Transcenta, Vittoria, Voyager