China-based Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals has granted the license of its B7H3/PTK7 topo-I-payload BsADC programme to IDEAYA Biosciences for up to $407m.
Biocytogen is a biotech firm focusing on the discovery of novel antibody/antibody drug conjugate (ADC) therapeutics, while IDEAYA Biosciences is a precision medicine oncology company developing targeted therapeutics. IDEAYA Biosciences is listed on the Nasdaq.
The option and license agreement signed by the parties grants IDEAYA Biosciences an option for an exclusive worldwide license for B7H3/PTK7.
According to Biocytogen, B7H3/PTK7 is found co-expressed in various solid tumour types with double-digit percent prevalence in lung, colorectal, and head and neck cancers, among others.
Under the agreement, the Chinese biotech will receive an upfront payment.
In case IDEAYA Biosciences exercises the option, Biocytogen will get additional payments including an option exercise fee, development and regulatory milestones, and commercial milestones.
Biocytogen will also earn single-digit royalties on net sales.
The total potential payments, including upfront, option exercise, and milestone payments, could reach $406.5m, with $100m allocated to development and regulatory milestones.
Biocytogen president and CEO Yuelei Shen said: “This partnership leverages our cutting-edge RenLite platform and proprietary linker-payload technology to enhance the precision and potency of ADCs.
“IDEAYA’s strong determination and rich experience in drug development make us confident that this therapy could be rapidly advanced to benefit patients.”
As per Biocytogen, preclinical data has shown the B7H3/PTK7 topoisomerase-I-inhibitor-payload BsADC programme to hold promise as a monotherapy.
B7H3/PTK7 can also be used in combination with several programmes in the oncology firm’s pipeline, including the DNA Damage Repair (DDR)-based PARG inhibitor IDE161.
A development candidate for the B7H3/PTK7 topoisomerase-I-inhibitor-payload BsADC programme is expected to be nominated in the second half of this year.
IDEAYA Biosciences president and CEO Yujiro Hata said: “The potential first-in-class B7H3/PTK7 topo-I-payload BsADC programme has the potential to be developed as a monotherapy agent in multiple solid tumour types, and advances IDEAYA’s broader corporate strategy to enable wholly-owned first-in-class rational combinations at the intersection of ADCs and small molecule DDR-based therapies to deliver greater benefit for patients.”
Last month, the Biocytogen signed a multi-target antibody agreement with SOTIO Biotech.
The Czech Republic-based SOTIO Biotech will use Biocytogen’s proprietary RenLite platform to develop next-generation ADCs targeting solid tumours. In return, the Chinese firm will get up to $325.5m.
