Just days after Hifibio Therapeutics Inc. closed a $75 million series D financing, Fibrogen Inc. has agreed to pay the antibody specialist $25 million up front and as much as $1.1 billion in milestones for rights to multiple preclinical programs for autoimmune diseases and cancer. The deal includes exclusive rights to Galectin-9 programs, in which the lead asset is expected to enter clinical development in the first quarter of 2023, and options to license all assets in Hifibio's CXCR5 and CCR8 programs.
Barely a week after cutting a deal with Beigene Ltd. that included an up-front of $45 million cash, Shoreline Biosciences Inc. and Gilead Sciences Inc.-owned Kite are collaborating to develop allogeneic cell therapies in a deal that could bring Shoreline more than $2.3 billion plus royalties.
Zai Lab Ltd. and Macrogenics Inc. have announced a collaboration and license agreement involving up to four immuno-oncology molecules in a deal potentially worth upward of $1.5 billion. The deal makes sense as both are upcoming companies at around the same stage in development – making progress in oncology with first products recently approved by regulators.
Iteos Therapeutics Inc. and Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK) are sharing costs for global development of the anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody EOS-448 and plan to split the U.S. profits in a deal that brings Iteos an up-front payment of $625 million plus up to $1.45 billion in potential milestone payments.
Phase III stakes are always high. But for Merck & Co. Inc., results of a late-stage test of its SARS-CoV-2 antiviral, molnupiravir, stand to determine not just the fate of a desired emergency use authorization (EUA), but also a $1.2 billion purchase agreement with the U.S. government pending the EUA. The RNA polymerase inhibitor, invented at Emory University and developed with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP, is being evaluated in a phase III study for the treatment of non-hospitalized patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. An earlier study found it unlikely to deliver clinical benefit for hospitalized patients.
For the second time, the biopharma industry’s largest event will be held virtually as BIO Digital 2021, with pandemic preparedness and infectious diseases a running theme throughout many of the scheduled sessions.
Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. has partnered with Amgen Inc. to jointly develop and commercialize KHK-4083, Kyowa Kirin’s phase III-ready anti-OX40 fully human monoclonal antibody for the potential treatment of atopic dermatitis. Kyowa Kirin will receive a $400 million up front, while milestone payments could add an additional $850 million. Significant royalty payments on future global sales could sweeten the blockbuster deal.
Scohia Pharma Inc. has secured an agreement with Huadong Medicine Co. Ltd., enabling the former to tap the greater China market for SCO-094, its GLP-1R and GIPR dual agonist.
DUBLIN – Aelis Farma SAS is banking $30 million up front as part of a strategic collaboration and option license deal with Indivior plc involving AEF-0117, its candidate drug for treating cannabis-related disorders, including addiction and psychosis. It could receive another $100 million, should Invidior trigger the option on completion of a phase IIb trial in the U.S.
Scohia Pharma Inc. has secured an agreement with Huadong Medicine Co. Ltd., enabling the former to tap the greater China market for SCO-094, its GLP-1R and GIPR dual agonist.