Janssen Inks Potential $1.5bn Deal with Zymeworks
Zymeworks has now licensed Janssen Biotech Inc. global rights to use its Azymetric and EFECT (Effector Function Enhancement and Control Technology) platforms in the research, development, and commercialization of up to six bispecific antibodies against Janssen targets.
The Johnson & Johnson’s Biotech will be tapping Zymeworks’ Azymetric™ and Effector Function Enhancement and Control Technology (EFECT™) platforms to research, develop, and commercialize up to six bispecific antibodies directed to unspecified Janssen therapeutic targets, through a licensing agreement that could generate for it up-to-$1.4 billion-plus.
Janssen has agreed to oversee all research, development, and commercial activities under the licensing agreement. In return, Janssen has agreed to pay Zymeworks $50 million upfront, up to $282 million in payments tied to achieving development milestones, and up to $1.12 billion in commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties on potential sales.
Under the agreement with Zymeworks, Janssen also has the option to develop two additional bispecific programs subject to a future option payment.
In addition to ZW25, Zymeworks’ pipeline includes numerous preclinical candidates—the bispecific anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) ZW33, in development to treat breast and ovarian cancer, as well as unspecified bispecific ADCs, T-cell-engaging bispecifics, and checkpoint-modulating bispecifics, all indicated to treat solid tumors.
“The proceeds from this collaboration will be primarily used to fund the clinical advancement of ZW25, as well as the advancement of our preclinical programs into the clinic,
” Zymeworks president and CEO Ali Tehrani, Ph.D., said in a statement.ZW25 is a bispecific antibody designed to treat HER2-expressing cancers by simultaneously binding two non-overlapping epitopes—called biparatopic binding—of HER2, resulting in a dual HER2 signal blockade, increased binding and removal of HER2 protein from the cell surface, and enhanced effector function.
Zymeworks’ Azymetric platform is designed to develop immunoglobulin G (IgG)-like, novel bispecific antibodies capable of binding two different targets in order to target synergistic drug targets, by enabling the transformation of monospecific antibodies. The company says its Azymetric bispecific antibodies retain the desirable features of typical monoclonal antibodies, including standard manufacturing processes with comparable production yields, long serum half-life, the ability to mediate effector function, and low immunogenicity risk.
