Ideaya Biosciences is paying $400M+ for an option on Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals’ potential first-in-class B7H3/PTK7 BsADC program. Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with cytotoxic drugs aimed at delivering highly targeted treatment. Biocytogen says B7H3/PTK7 is co-expressed in multiple solid tumor types, including having double-digit percent prevalence…

Eisai and Bristol Myers Squibb are ending their $650M collaboration for the co-development and co-commercialization of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) farletuzumab ecteribulin (FZEC), due to “ongoing portfolio prioritization efforts within Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS).” Formerly known as MORAb-202, FZEC is a folate receptor alpha (FRα)-targeting antibody drug conjugate (ADC). Eisai and…

One of the most competitive fields in pharma today involves antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), a market estimated to be worth almost $20B already. This week the FDA accepted the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for ADC Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) and granted it Priority Review. Enhertu is a HER2-directed ADC being…

Two new deals around antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) were just struck. Pfizer will develop and commercialize Nona Biosciences’ MSLN-targeted ADC HBM9033 in a deal worth potentially $1B+. Meanwhile, Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals announced an antibody evaluation, option, and license agreement with Ona Therapeutics. The deal includes an option to exclusively license selected…

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) will co-develop SystImmune’s BL-B01D1, a potentially first-in-class EGFRxHER3 bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) in the United States. The deal is worth potentially more than $8B. “Recent BL-B01D1 trials have shown broad potential across different solid tumors as well as a manageable safety profile,” said Yi Zhu, CEO…

In a $4B upfront deal, Merck is acquiring three of Daiichi Sankyo’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidates: patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd), ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd), and raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd). The two companies will jointly develop and commercialize these drugs worldwide, except in Japan where Daiichi Sankyo will maintain exclusive rights. Total potential consideration…

China-headquartered MediLink Therapeutics has entered into a deal with BioNTech for development of a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate candidate (ADC) against Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 3 (HER3). With an upfront payment of $70M and plenty of additional development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, the deal could be worth over $1 billion.…

Sony Corporation and Astellas Pharma have signed an agreement to discover a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform in oncology based on Sony’s unique polymeric material—the KIRAVIA Backbone, which is made using the same organic polymer technology incorporated in the company’s proprietary KIRAVIA dyesTM. Terms of the deal were not released.…

On Friday, an FDA advisory committee voted 8-6 that the benefits of Sarepta Therapeutics’ gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) outweighs the treatment’s risks. If it is approved, SRP-9001 (delandistrogene moxeparvovec), which is being developed with Roche, will be the first gene therapy approved for this disease. The vote…

In the latest high profile antibody drug conjugate (ADC) deal, this week Hangzhou-based Bliss Biopharmaceutical (BlissBio) announced a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Eisai for its lead ADC BB-1701, which is in Phase I/II in China and the U.S. BB-1701 has an eribulin-payload directed against Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor…

Bristol Myers Squibb joined the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) rush as it announced an agreement with Tubulis to develop differentiated ADCs using the company’s proprietary P5 conjugation platform. The deal covers the development of a selected number of highly differentiated ADCs to treat solid tumors. There are already more than a…

The field of ADCs is heating up, as the FDA just granted PADCEV (Seagen’s enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) and KEYTRUDA (Merck’s pembrolizumab) accelerated approval as a combination therapy for the treatment of certain adult patients with advanced urothelial cancer. Final approval is contingent upon results from a follow up trial (EV-302). Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are…

BioNTech is adding ADCs to its portfolio through a deal with China-based Duality Biologics (DualityBio). The two companies will collaborate on development, manufacturing, and commercialization of two antibody drug conjugate (ADC) assets for cancer and autoimmune disease, including Duality’s lead candidate (DB-1303), which is currently in Phase II. DualityBio will…

Pfizer is beefing up its oncology portfolio by acquiring Seagen for $229 per share, for a total deal value of $43 billion. Pfizer’s move came after Merck’s failed attempt to acquire the biotech. That deal is believed to have fallen flat after a price could not be negotiated, GEN recently…

Pheon Therapeutics launched this week following the closing of a $68 million Series A financing in March 2022. The investment will allow Pheon to advance its lead antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC) program to clinical proof-of-concept and establish a pipeline of novel ADCs for hard-to-treat cancers. The financing was led by Brandon Capital,…