ARTICLE | Deals
Marketer of Keytruda takes rights to bifunctional molecule in class that could compete directly with its top seller
By Paul Bonanos, Director of Biopharma Intelligence
November 14, 2024 9:47 PM UTC
Enthusiasm for bispecifics that combine checkpoint-inhibiting and anti-angiogenesis mechanisms continued to run high this week as Merck’s $588 million in-licensing of a clinical antibody followed an $800 million takeout by just one day. The assets in both those deals, as well as the drug class’ leading program, originated at China-based biotechs.
Deal-making has intensified since a September readout showed that a bispecific PD-1 x VEGF inhibitor from Guangdong-headquartered Akeso Inc. (HKEX:9926) significantly improved survival compared with blockbuster Keytruda pembrolizumab among non-small cell lung cancer patients in a Phase III study conducted in China. The program is partnered with Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:SMMT) outside Greater China…
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- Source: https://www.biocentury.com/article/654197/more-bd-in-akeso-s-wake-merck-buys-into-lanova-s-bispecific-for-588m-up-front