Diaccurate SAB has scooped a cancer drug from Germany’s Merck KGaA, transforming the small French biotech into a clinical-stage company. With expertise on its scientific advisory board from Nobel prize winner Tasuku Honjo, famously credited with the work establishing PD-1 as a target in immune-oncology, Diaccurate said it has fought off other competitors to acquire M-2698.
Replicate Bioscience Inc. secured a $40 million series A round to take a portfolio of preclinical projects employing self-replicating RNA into the clinic.
Innovent Biologics Inc. has inked a $312 million licensing deal for the development and commercialization of Genfleet Therapeutics Inc.’s KRAS G12C inhibitor, GFH-925, in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Innovent also has additional option-in rights for global development and commercialization.
Bristol Myers Squibb Co.’s Opdivo (nivolumab) is now the first and only immunotherapy for the first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer in China.
Illumina Inc. and Merck & Co. Inc. are partnering to commercialize tests identifying genetic mutations used in the assessment of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). Patients whose tumors are HRD-positive may be eligible for targeted chemotherapy treatment by a class of precision medicines called PARP inhibitors. The companies will develop tests utilizing Illumina's Trusight Oncology 500 assay for genomic profiling, which is designed to identify 523 known and emerging tumor biomarkers.
A new deal between Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc and Roche Holding AG's Genentech Inc. aims to develop allogeneic cell therapies for up to five shared cancer targets. Should the agreement win regulatory clearance, still pending, Adaptimmune will receive $150 million up front and additional payments of $150 million over five years. In addition, it could be eligible for development, regulatory and commercial milestones payments from Roche exceeding $3 billion, plus royalties.
RSS
