On October 29, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.US) announced the acquisition of EnMab Bio's in-development CD19 and CD20 targeted T-cell engager (TCE) for a total amount of 0.85 billion US dollars, used to treat autoimmune diseases. This is another licensing cooperation event in the field of innovative drugs in China.

In recent years, new drug licensing cooperation has become one of the important trends in the industry. Public information shows that since October this year alone, there have been nearly 30 global licensing cooperation events, including actions by many international pharmaceutical companies such as Biogen (BIIB.US), Novartis (NVS.US), Pfizer (PFE.US), Eli Lilly and Co (LLY.US), Merck (MRK.US), AstraZeneca, covering products such as molecular glue degraders, antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), small molecule anti-tumor drugs, dual-target projects for obesity, gene therapy for adult neurodegenerative diseases, and more.

Among these collaborative projects, there are also pipelines under research and development from China. Public information shows that this month, many innovative drug companies such as Rgenix Pharma, CSPC Pharma, BaiYun Pharma, EnMab Bio, and YuZhiYu Bio have completed new drug licensing transactions, with the total disclosed amount of these transactions exceeding 5 billion US dollars.

Based on public information, this article introduces new drug licensing cooperation projects with a total amount exceeding 0.5 billion US dollars globally since October 2024 (the total amount disclosed by these 12 new drug licensing cooperation projects is approximately 17 billion US dollars), looking at which promising under-research new drugs have the potential to benefit which patients in the future.

Licensor: Neomorph

Licensee: Biogen

Cooperative product: Molecular Glue Degrader

On October 29, Biogen and Neomorph announced a partnership to develop molecular glue degraders for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, rare neurological diseases, and immune diseases. According to the agreement, the two parties will collaborate to identify, validate, and optimize small molecule drugs for several high-priority targets of molecular glue degraders. Biogen will advance the further development and potential commercialization of clinical candidate drugs, while Neomorph will receive an upfront payment and be eligible for milestone payments at various stages of the cooperation, with a total consideration of up to 1.45 billion dollars. Neomorph, established in 2020, also made it to the list of NextGen Bio “Class of 2022” selected by BioSpace, a well-known media website in the biomedical industry for the new generation of biotech companies.

Licensor: Enyu Biotech

Importer: GlaxoSmithKline

Collaborative Product: CD19/CD20/CD3 T-cell Engager

On October 29, GlaxoSmithKline announced the acquisition of CMG1A46 from Chimagen Biosciences, a clinical-stage CD19 and CD20 targeted T-cell engager (TCE). GSK plans to develop and commercialize CMG1A46 for B-cell-driven autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis, with a possibility of expanding to related autoimmune diseases. According to the agreement, GSK will make an upfront payment of 0.3 billion dollars to obtain all global rights to CMG1A46. In addition, Chimagen Biosciences will be eligible to receive development and commercialization milestone payments totaling 0.55 billion dollars.

Licensor: Monte Rosa Company

Importer: Novartis

Collaborative Product: Molecular Glue Protein Degrader Targeting VAV1

On October 29, Monte Rosa Therapeutics announced a global exclusive development and commercial license agreement with Novartis to advance the development of molecular glue degraders targeting VAV1, including the investigative therapy MRT-6160. Under the agreement terms, Novartis will have the global exclusive development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights for MRT-6160 and other molecular glue degraders targeting VAV1, and will be responsible for all clinical development and commercialization work starting from Phase 2 clinical trials. Novartis has agreed to pay Monte Rosa a prepayment of 0.15 billion USD. In addition, Monte Rosa is eligible to receive milestone payments of up to 2.1 billion USD for development, regulatory, and sales milestones.

VAV1 is a key signaling protein downstream of T cells and B cell receptors. MRT-6160 has shown promising activity in preclinical models and has the potential to be a therapeutic option for various immune-mediated diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and skin diseases.

Licensor: CSPC Pharma

Introducer: Novartis

Collaborative Product: A small molecule cancer innovative drug

On October 17, CSPC Pharma announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Novartis for an investigational anti-cancer small molecule drug. Under the agreement, CSPC Pharma will receive an upfront payment of 70 million USD, as well as various milestone payments for development, registration, and commercialization totaling up to 1.1 billion USD, and corresponding royalties. Novartis will have the global exclusive development and commercialization rights for this small molecule innovative drug.

The small molecule innovative drug research and development team of CSPC Pharma is deeply rooted in the fields of oncology and autoimmune diseases. According to information on the CSPC Pharma official website, the company's pipeline includes over ten investigational products, with the rapidly advancing new drugs being BY1298 in the DNA damage field, and an oncology immune therapy targeting PARP7 called BY1921.

Licensor: TRIANA Biomedicines

Importer: Pfizer

Cooperative product: Molecular gelatinase inhibitor

On October 16, TRIANA Biomedicines announced a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Pfizer, in various disease areas including oncology, to jointly develop innovative molecular gelatinase inhibitors. According to the terms of the collaboration agreement, TRIANA will receive a prepayment of $49 million and is eligible for over $1.5 billion in potential milestone payments. TRIANA will utilize its target-first and proximity-first molecular gel discovery platform to discover molecular gelatinase inhibitors targeting multiple targets. TRIANA will be responsible for the discovery of potential candidate drugs. Pfizer has an exclusive option to obtain exclusive licenses and further advance preclinical and clinical development.

Licenser: KeyBioscience

Importer: Eli Lilly and Company

Cooperative product: Adiponectin/Calcitonin receptor dual agonists

On October 11, KeyBioscience announced that it has reached an agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to expand their collaboration in the development of Adiponectin/Calcitonin receptor dual agonists (DACRA) in the treatment of obesity and related diseases. This collaboration includes a new DACRA molecule expected to enter phase 2 clinical trials later this year for the treatment of obesity and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Under the terms of the agreement, Eli Lilly and Company will have the global rights to develop and commercialize DACRA molecules. KeyBioscience will receive an upfront payment and up to a total of $1.4 billion in follow-up payments upon reaching specific development, regulatory, and commercialization milestones.

DACRA is a peptide class drug that binds with high affinity to adiponectin and calcitonin receptors, stimulating their activity without binding to similar CGRP receptors and adrenal medullary hormone receptors, reducing the likelihood of side effects. KeyBioscience's modifications to DACRA molecules enable them to durably activate receptors, reducing the number of injections needed to lose weight.

Licensor: Circle Pharma

Partner: Boehringer Ingelheim

Collaborative product: cell cycle protein inhibitors

On October 10, Boehringer Ingelheim and Circle Pharma announced a new research collaboration and licensing agreement to jointly develop a potential 'first-in-class' cell cycle protein inhibitor for the treatment of refractory cancer patients. Under the agreement, Circle Pharma will receive up to $0.607 billion in upfront payments and potential development, regulatory, and other milestone payments.

Circle Pharma is advancing the discovery and development of cell-permeable macrocyclic compounds through various dosing pathways including oral administration. Circle Pharma's MXMO platform combines structure-based rational drug design and advanced synthetic chemistry to develop a new generation of macrocyclic therapies targeting challenging targets to meet unmet clinical needs. Circle Pharma's development focus is on targeting cell cycle proteins, with its lead project, the cell cycle protein A/B RxL inhibitor CID-078, currently undergoing evaluation in clinical trials.

Licensor: Mestag Therapeutics

Introducer: Merck

Collaborative product: innovative therapies for treating cancer and inflammatory diseases

On October 10, Mestag Therapeutics reached a research and development collaboration and licensing agreement with Merck, utilizing its RAFT technology platform to simulate fibroblasts and discover innovative targets for inflammatory diseases with Merck for the development of new therapies.

Mestag's technology platform explores the interaction between fibroblasts and the immune system to develop innovative therapies for cancer and inflammatory diseases. According to the agreement, Merck has the right to further develop and commercialize targets discovered through the collaboration. Mestag will receive upfront and milestone payments totaling up to 1.9 billion dollars.

Licensor: LigaChem Biosciences

Licensee: Ono Pharmaceutical

Collaborative Product: ADC targeting L1 cell adhesion molecules

On October 10, Ono Pharmaceutical announced a research and development collaboration and licensing agreement with LigaChem Biosciences, obtaining the potential 'first-in-class' Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) LCB97 for treating solid tumors. LCB97 is an ADC developed based on the ConjuAll platform, targeting L1 cell adhesion molecules highly expressed in multiple solid tumors. LCB97 has demonstrated potent anti-cancer effects in various mouse cancer models.

Ono will also collaborate with LigaChem Biosciences to develop a new generation of ADC using the latter's proprietary ConjuAll technology platform. According to the agreement, Ono will receive the global exclusive rights for the development, production, and commercialization of LCB97 for treating solid tumors, and LigaChem Biosciences will receive upfront and potential milestone payments of up to 0.7 billion dollars.

Licensor: AviadoBio

Introducing Party: Astellas

Collaboration Product: A gene therapy based on AAV

On October 8, AviadoBio and Astellas Pharma announced an exclusive option and license agreement for AVB-101. Astellas will obtain the global exclusive development and commercialization rights for the AAV-based gene therapy AVB-101 in FTD-GRN (frontotemporal dementia) and other potential indications. According to the agreement, AviadoBio will receive a $20 million equity investment and up to $30 million upfront payment. If Astellas exercises its option, AviadoBio is also eligible to receive $2.18 billion in license fees, milestone payments, and royalties.

AVB-101 aims to deliver a normal gene copy that encodes for progranulin precursor to the brain using an AAV9 vector, to restore normal expression of the progranulin precursor. This therapy is designed for intrathalamic administration, utilizing the brain's neural networks to enhance vector's biodistribution and achieve maximal gene expression. The product completed its first patient dosing in April this year, marking the first intrathalamic gene therapy in adults for treating neurodegenerative diseases, as described in AviadoBio's previous press release.

Grantor: CSPC Pharma

Introducing Party: AstraZeneca

Collaboration Product: Small molecule lipid-lowering drug

On October 7, AstraZeneca China announced an exclusive licensing agreement with CSPC Pharma to advance the development of a preclinical innovative small molecule lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) inhibitor. AstraZeneca will obtain CSPC Pharma's preclinical candidate small molecule drug YS2302018, an oral Lp(a) inhibitor, for developing novel lipid-lowering therapy and for a singular or combination therapy for various cardiovascular diseases, including co-administration with the oral small molecule PCSK9 inhibitor AZD0780. As per the agreement terms, CSPC Pharma will receive an upfront payment of $0.1 billion. Additionally, CSPC Pharma may receive up to $1.92 billion in development and commercialization milestone payments, along with tiered royalties.

Licensor: Ruige Pharmaceuticals

Introducer: Roche

Collaborative Product: Next-generation CDK inhibitors

On October 1st, Ruige Pharmaceuticals (Regor Pharmaceuticals) announced that it has reached an agreement with Roche's subsidiary Genentech. Genentech will acquire Ruige Pharmaceuticals' research pipeline of next-generation CDK inhibitors for the treatment of breast cancer. According to the agreement, Ruige will receive upfront payments of up to 0.85 billion USD and will be eligible for development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments. Genentech will be responsible for the clinical development, production, and global commercialization of the research projects. Ruige will continue the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trials until completion.

Based on its unique Computer Accelerated Rational Design (CARD) platform, Ruige Pharmaceuticals develops innovative and differentiated therapies to treat tumors, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases with high unmet medical needs. The company's research pipeline includes various investigational therapies, such as the CDK4 inhibitor RGT-419B for breast cancer treatment, and the CDK4 selective inhibitor RGT-587 capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier.

This article is reproduced from the 'Medical Observation' official account, edited by Jiāng Yuǎnhuá at Wise Finance.