Revolution Medicines Inc. is acquiring Eqrx Inc. in an all-stock transaction designed to add more than $1 billion in net cash for Revolution so it can forge ahead with its RAS pathway programs. Serial biotech entrepreneur and investor Alexis Borisy co-founded Eqrx in 2020 to deliver new medicines for cancer and other conditions at "radically lower prices." Borisy also co-founded Revolution, where he remains as executive chairman.
Eqrx Inc., a startup co-founded by serial biotech entrepreneur and investor Alexis Borisy to deliver new medicines for cancer and other conditions at "radically lower prices," is poised to raise up to $1.8 billion via a merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) CM Life Sciences III Inc. The transaction, which would bring Eqrx to Nasdaq, includes a fully committed and upsized PIPE of $1.2 billion led by Softbank Group's SB Management Ltd. as well as SPAC sponsors Casdin Capital LLC and Corvex Management LP, plus $550 million of cash and trust held by the SPAC itself.
In reporting positive data from a phase III study of sugemalimab in treating stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Cstone Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. and Eqrx Inc. have the first anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody demonstrating progression-free survival in patients with concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy. The data built on positive data released in August from another phase III study showing sugemalimab (CS-1001) prolonged PFS when used as a first-line treatment for stage IV squamous and nonsquamous NSCLC plus standard-of-care chemotherapy, hitting the study’s primary endpoint.
In reporting positive data from a phase III study of sugemalimab in treating stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Cstone Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. and Eqrx Inc. have the first anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody demonstrating progression-free survival in patients with concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy.
Just weeks after exclusively out-licensing China rights for its anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (MAb), sugemalimab, to Pfizer Inc., Cstone Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has monetized it again in a valuable new deal with Eqrx Inc. Deal terms include $150 million up front and as much as $1.15 billion in milestones for Cstone in exchange for full commercial rights to sugemalimab and the anti-PD-1 MAb CS-1003 outside greater China. Cstone could also receive tiered royalties if the products reach market.
Eqrx Inc., a new venture created to advance fast-follower drugs that founding CEO Alexis Borisy said will be priced "radically lower" than first-in-class medicines, launched with $200 million in series A financing.
