Pfizer is launching the first clinical trials for its PD-1xVEGF drug, while Akeso detailed the first overall survival win for its first-in-class ivonescimab. Eli Lilly signed two more drug discovery pacts, continuing a dealmaking spree. And more.
Pfizer unveiled the first clinical trials for its PD-1xVEGF bispecific licensed from China’s 3SBio. One of the first two phase 3 trials is a head-to-head study against Keytruda in the two drugs’ respective combinations with chemotherapy in patients with first-line non-small cell lung cancer. A phase 1/2 will combine the drug, coded PF-08634404, with Pfizer’s antibody-drug conjugates.
2. Akeso details ivonescimab's 1st overall survival win. Should Summit celebrate?
Akeso provided detailed results for ivonescimab’s first positive overall survival readout, showing that the addition of the PD-1xVEGF drug to chemotherapy reduced the risk of death by 25% in Chinese patients with previously treated EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The OS win marked another validation of the drug class but did not necessarily secure ivonescimab a top spot in this particular indication.
3. Eli Lilly pens $1.2B pact with Sanegene to better target metabolic RNA meds
Lilly continues AI push, inking $100M-plus research pact with Insilico
Eli Lilly continued its recent deal spree by inking a research pact worth up to $1.2 billion with Sino-American biotech SanegeneBio focused on cardiometabolic RNA interference medicines and a separate $100 million-plus deal with artificial intelligence drug discovery outfit Insilico Medicine. The Indianapolis pharma had just signed another AI drug design deal with XtalPi last week.
4. Neurocrine's depression drug is latest asset from Takeda pact to flunk a phase 2 trial
A phase 2 major depressive disorder trial of a candidate Neurocrine Biosciences licensed from Takeda has failed. The drug, a negative allosteric modulator of the NMDA NR2B receptor, failed to beat placebo on change in depression severity by Day 5 as measured on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale.
5. Lyell hands over $70M-plus in cash, equity for 'impressive' phase 1-stage colorectal cancer CAR-T
Lyell Immunopharma is paying Sino-American firm Innovative Cellular Therapeutics $40 million upfront, plus 1.9 million of its own shares, for ex-China rights to a CAR-T therapy. In an ongoing U.S. study in 12 pretreated colorectal cancer patients, a high dose of the guanylyl cyclase-C-targeted CAR-T has shown a 67% overall response rate and median progression-free survival of 7.8 months.
6. Third Arc Bio pens back-loaded $840M pact for Adagene's masking T-cell engager tech
In a heavily back-loaded deal, Third Arc Bio is tapping Adagene to develop T-cell engagers against tumor-associated antigens. The pact includes $5 million upfront and up to $840 million in milestones. The Adagene platform involved is designed to activate an antigen when it reaches the tumor microenvironment, improving safety and widening therapeutic index.
Other News of Note:
7. JSF divests CRO Crown Biosciences for $204M (release, release)
8. Recall roundup: Fresenius, Sun and Teva among drugmakers pulling products in recent weeks
9. Lundbeck, Otsuka back survey uncovering ‘blind spot’ around Alzheimer’s agitation
10. Boryung breaks ground on penicillin plant expansion in South Korea
11. China allocates $60M to procure 15.4M bivalent HPV shots for national immunization scheme (Jiemian, Chinese)