BioNTech and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) have entered a strategic partnership to co-develop and co-commercialise BioNTech’s bispecific antibody candidate, BNT327, for various solid tumour types.
The collaboration aims to broaden and accelerate the development of BNT327, an investigational therapy targeting PD-L1 and VEGF-A.
Under the agreement, both companies will jointly develop and market BNT327, exploring its use as a monotherapy and in combination with other treatments.
They retain the right to independently pursue further indications and combinations, including those involving their proprietary pipeline assets.
BMS will make an upfront payment of $1.5bn to BioNTech, with an additional $2bn in non-contingent anniversary payments through 2028.
BioNTech may also receive up to $7.6bn in development, regulatory, and commercial milestones.
Both companies will equally share development and manufacturing costs, profits and losses.
Bristol Myers Squibb CEO and board chair Christopher Boerner said: “Our deep experience and expertise in advancing and delivering groundbreaking immuno-oncology medicines positions BMS well to collaboratively realise the potential of BNT327, an asset with significant potential for transforming the standard of care for patients with solid tumours.
“The science behind BNT327 and its leading clinical position in multiple hard-to-treat tumour types, further bolsters our pursuit of novel mechanisms and multiple modalities in oncology and enhances our growth trajectory.
“We are impressed by the innovation that BioNTech has achieved to date, and we look forward to partnering to accelerate existing clinical trials and time to market, while expanding the number of potential indications.”
BNT327 is currently undergoing multiple trials, having treated over 1,000 patients.
It is being evaluated in global Phase 3 trials for extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
A Phase 3 trial for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is expected to commence by the end of 2025.
Preliminary data suggest the potential of combining anti-PD-L1 and anti-VEGF-A into a single molecule for enhanced clinical benefits across various tumour types.
BioNTech co-founder and CEO Ugur Sahin said: “We believe BNT327 has the potential to become a foundational immuno-oncology backbone, moving beyond single-mechanism checkpoint inhibitors and expanding into multiple solid-tumour indications.
“Our collaboration with BMS, a pioneering leader in immuno-oncology, aims to accelerate and broadly expand BNT327’s development to fully realise its potential.
“Our focus remains on advancing high-impact, pan-tumour programmes and combination strategies in oncology, with BNT327 complementing our antibody-drug conjugate programmes and mRNA-based immunotherapies.”
Last month, BioNTech’s subsidiary, BioNTech UK, secured a grant agreement with the UK government to enhance research and development of innovative medicines in the UK.
