Demand for its COVID-19 vaccine might be declining, but Biontech SE is putting its revenue to good use, picking up rights to a bispecific antibody candidate from Biotheus Inc. in exchange for $55 million up front and potentially more than $1 billion in development, regulatory and sales milestones.
Researchers from Biontech SE and Genmab BV presented the discovery and preclinical evaluation of a novel Duobody-EpCAMx4-1BB (BNT314/GEN1059), a novel Fc-inert immunomodulatory bispecific antibody (bsAb) designed to boost antitumor immune responses through EpCAM-dependent 4-1BB agonistic activity.
The official end of the COVID-19 public health emergency in the U.S. in May did not mark the end of interest and investment in the area. In the shifting landscape, attention has pivoted to new markets, emerging strains, boosters, and the commercialization and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and therapies.
In its first significant partnering deal since being founded in 2020, Medilink Therapeutics Co. Ltd. licensed exclusive global rights to an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting HER3 to Biontech SE in exchange for an up-front payment of $70 million, with the possibility for additional payments tied to development, regulatory and commercial milestones exceeding $1 billion. Medilink retains rights in mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macau Special Administrative Region.
The vagaries of the COVID-19 market and the uncertainties of pandemic fatigue are hitting some biopharma companies in the pocketbook, at least for now. Due to lower-than-expected revenues from its COVID-19 Comirnaty vaccine and antiviral Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), Pfizer Inc. reduced its 2023 revenue guidance by $9 billion after hours Oct. 13, saying it now anticipates full-year 2023 revenues to range from $58 billion to $61 billion – down from its previous guidance range of $67 billion to $70 billion.
Medilink Therapeutics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. has entered into a strategic research collaboration and worldwide license agreement with Biontech SE for the development of a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate candidate (ADC) against HER3.
In its first significant partnering deal since being founded in 2020, Medilink Therapeutics Co. Ltd. licensed exclusive global rights to an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting HER3 to Biontech SE in exchange for an up-front payment of $70 million, with the possibility for additional payments tied to development, regulatory and commercial milestones exceeding $1 billion. Medilink retains rights in mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macau Special Administrative Region.
Biontech SE and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) have established a strategic partnership to advance mRNA-based vaccine candidates with the development of BNT-166 for the prevention of mpox (formerly monkeypox).
Instead of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines comprising both the original and omicron BA.4/BA.5 SARS-CoV-2 strains that have been in use in the U.S. since April, the CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices voted 13-1 Sept. 12 to recommend the universal use of updated monovalent XBB-containing COVID-19 vaccines as authorized or approved by the FDA.
Biontech SE and Pfizer Inc. filed a petition with the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board for an inter partes review against Moderna Inc., the latest move in an ongoing patent battle over the mRNA technology used to develop COVID-19 vaccines.
