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.
Sorrento Therapeutics Inc. has divulged antibody-drug conjugates comprising antibodies targeting HER2 covalently linked to exatecan through a linker. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Researchers at Firefly Bio Inc. have prepared antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprising monoclonal antibodies targeting HER2 covalently linked to stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING; TMEM173) agonists through a linker. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammation and infections.
Debiopharm SA has entered into an exclusive option and license agreement with Sunrock Biopharma SL to advance the development of specifically targeted antibodies.
U3-1402/patritumab-GGFG-DXd is the first HER3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) showing clinical efficacy in non-small-cell lung cancer. However, an elevated proportion of patients with this cancer express low levels of HER3 and are nonresponsive to this ADC. In addition, novel ADCs are needed to treat other cancer types, including colorectal cancer.
The Samsung Life Science Fund made its fourth equity investment into a South Korean antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) developer, Aimedbio Inc., to round out its investment portfolio padded with three other firms, including Jaguar Gene Therapy LLC, Senda Biosciences Inc. and Araris Biotech AG.
Researchers at Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co. Ltd., Shanghai Senhui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Shanghai Shengdi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have disclosed antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprising monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-4R covalently linked to glucocorticoid analogues through a linker. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of asthma and skin allergy.
Harbour Biomed Ltd. has received FDA clearance of its IND application to commence a phase I trial of HBM-9033 in advanced solid tumors. Developed in collaboration with Medilink Therapeutics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., HBM-9033 is an antibody-drug conjugate that specifically targets human mesothelin (MSLN), an upregulated tumor-associated antigen in various solid tumors, including mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and pancreatic cancers. The fully human monoclonal antibody in HBM-9033, generated from the Harbour Mice platform, binds preferably to membrane bond MSLN over soluble MSLN, which minimizes the interference of the shedding MSLN on the binding and internalization of the membrane bond MSLN.
Oncusp Therapeutics Inc. has received IND clearance from the FDA to begin clinical trials with CUSP-06, a cadherin-6 (CDH6)-targeting antibody-drug conjugate designed for the treatment of multiple solid tumors. CDH6 is overexpressed in cancers including ovarian, renal, uterine, thyroid, lung, and cholangiocarcinoma. A phase I trial will pave the way for expansion in patients with platinum-refractory/resistant ovarian cancer and other advanced solid tumors.
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