Chinese language radiotherapeutics firm Full-Life Applied sciences has signed a licensing settlement with South Korean biotech firm SK Biopharmaceuticals (SK Bio), value $571.5m.
Beneath the phrases of the settlement, SK Bio will acquire international rights to analysis, develop, manufacture, and commercialise Full-Life’s radiopharmaceutical compound FL-091.
Full-Life will obtain $571.5m, together with upfront cost, and growth and industrial milestones, and can also be eligible to obtain royalties.
FL-091 is a small-molecule radioligand vector designed to ship focused radiation remedy to most cancers cells by binding particularly to neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1).
Along with the NTSR1-targeting Radionuclide Drug Conjugate (RDC) programme, SK Bio will even acquire rights to its backup compounds, to develop and commercialise an anti-cancer drug.
South Korean biotech firm additionally holds a proper of first negotiation to license different pre-selected RDC packages of Full-Life.
SK Biopharmaceuticals president and CEO Donghoon Lee stated: “The licensing settlement with Full-Life not solely brings the 2 corporations nearer collectively for future collaborations within the quickest rising biotech sector but additionally most significantly, pushes SK Biopharmaceuticals ahead to turn out to be a ‘Massive Biotech’.
“For the reason that introduction of the corporate’s technique roadmap to enterprise into radiopharmaceuticals final yr, we have now been on monitor towards our envisioned aim.
“We count on to additional unveil and implement enterprise plans for RPT (radiopharmaceutical remedy) this yr, and actively pursue scientific growth and commercialization within the close to future to supply remedy choices and create new worth worldwide.”
NTSR1 is a receptor protein that’s selectively overexpressed in a number of most cancers varieties, together with colorectal most cancers, prostate most cancers, and pancreatic most cancers.
The overexpression of NTSR1 has been linked to the illness development of a number of most cancers varieties, together with colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and head and neck cancers.
In preclinical research, FL-091 radioligands have delivered beneficial biodistribution profiles and enhanced binding affinity to NTSR1, together with encouraging anti-tumour actions.
Full-Life is at the moment growing its alpha-emitter remedy candidate, 225Ac-FL-091, which targets NTSR1-positive tumours.
Full-Life CEO Lanny Solar stated: “This settlement with SK Biopharmaceuticals highlights the potential of FL-091 in advancing most cancers remedy and demonstrates SK Biopharmaceuticals’ unwavering dedication to constructing an oncology enterprise round medical innovation.
“We look ahead to future collaborations with SK Biopharmaceuticals, and to leveraging its experience and sources to advance radiopharmaceutical remedy.
“The settlement is aligned with our strategic imaginative and prescient of fostering international partnerships and making a significant influence on sufferers worldwide.”
Final month, SK Bio signed an settlement to accumulate a controlling stake in German contract manufacturing and growth organisation (CDMO) IDT Biologika.
