GSK receives licensing option to an ADC from Mersana for $100 million upfront

PARTNERING

GSK receives global license option for XMT-2056 from Mersana for $100 million upfront

XMT-2056 is designed to activate the innate immune system through STING signaling in both tumor-resident immune cells and in tumor cells. In preclinical models, XMT-2056 demonstrated robust anti-tumor activity as a monotherapy in both HER2-high and HER2-low expressing models, and enhanced efficacy has been shown when used in combination with multiple approved agents, including trastuzumab, pertuzumab, anti-PD-1, or trastuzumab deruxtecan. Mersana expects to initiate a Phase 1 trial of XMT-2056 to investigate its potential in a range of HER2-expressing tumors such as breast, gastric and non-small-cell lung cancers. FDA recently granted an orphan drug designation to XMT-2056 for the treatment of gastric cancer. Mersana will receive an upfront option purchase fee of $100 million. Mersana also is eligible to receive up to $1.36 billion in the form of an option exercise payment and development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments if GSK exercises its option. Mersana has retained options to profit-share and to co-promote in the US. If it exercises its profit-share option, Mersana will be eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales outside of the United States. If Mersana does not elect to profit-share, it is eligible to receive double-digit tiered royalties on global net sales.

Sanofi and Innovent entered collaboration to accelerate development of oncology medicines

Sanofi and Innovent Biologics announced a collaboration to bring innovative medicines to patients in China with difficult-to-treat cancers. Both companies are committed to accelerating the development and commercialization of two Sanofi key clinical stage oncology assets: Phase 3 SAR408701 (tusamitamab ravtansine; anti-CEACAM5 ADC and Phase 2 SAR444245 (non-alpha IL-2), combining with sintilimab, the leading checkpoint inhibitor in China. Innovent will be responsible for developing and exclusively commercializing tusamitamab in multiple oncology-based indications in China. Sanofi will be entitled to receive up to €80 million development milestone payment and royalties on the net sales of the product in China upon approval. Innovent and Sanofi will jointly explore the development of SAR444245 in China in various cancer types, where Innovent will lead the clinical development. Sanofi remains the sole Marketing Authorization holder for both assets and will be fully responsible for SAR245 commercialization. Innovent will be entitled to receive up to €60 million development milestone payments and royalties on the net sales of the product in China upon approval. Sanofi will invest in new common shares issued by Innovent for €300 million and will have the right to acquire additional Innovent new common shares for €300 million.

Poseida enters global collaboration with Roche focused on allogeneic CAR-T therapies

Poseida Therapeutics has entered into a broad strategic collaboration and license agreement with Roche focused on developing allogeneic CAR-T therapies directed to hematologic malignancies. The global collaboration covers the research and development of multiple existing and novel "off-the-shelf" cell therapies against targets in multiple myeloma, B-cell lymphomas and other hematologic indications.  Roche will receive from Poseida either exclusive rights or options to develop and commercialize a number of allogeneic CAR-T programs in Poseida's portfolio that are directed to hematologic malignancies, including P-BCMA-ALLO1, an allogeneic CAR-T for the treatment of multiple myeloma and for which a Phase 1 study is underway, and P-CD19CD20-ALLO1, an allogeneic dual CAR-T for the treatment of B-cell malignancies with an IND expected in 2023. The parties will also collaborate in a research program to create and develop next-generation features and improvements for allogeneic CAR-T therapies, from which they would jointly develop additional allogeneic CAR-T product candidates directed to existing and new hematologic targets. Poseida will conduct the Phase 1 studies and manufacture clinical materials before transitioning the programs to Roche for further development and commercialization. Poseida will receive $110 million upfront and could receive up to $110 million in near-term milestones and other payments in the next several years. In addition, Poseida is eligible to receive research, development, launch, and net sales milestones and other payments potentially up to $6 billion in aggregate value, as well as tiered net sales royalties into the low double digits, across multiple programs.