Servier and Black Diamond Therapeutics have signed a licensing agreement for a targeted therapy, BDTX-4933, to treat solid tumours.
Servier will be responsible for the development and the global commercialisation of the therapy for several indications.
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The focus will initially be on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with the possibility of extension to other solid tumour types.
Servier will pay Black Diamond $70m upfront, along with up to $710m in potential milestone payments based on development and commercial sales, plus royalties.
The small molecule targets alterations in RAS (rat sarcomas) and RAF (rapidly accelerated fibrosarcomas) present in solid tumours.
BDTX-4933 is undergoing Phase I clinical development. The ongoing first-in-human trial is assessing the therapy’s tolerability, preliminary antitumour activity and safety, and determining the recommended dose for Phase II.
The study includes adults with advanced or metastatic cancers that exhibit mutations in the B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine-protein kinase (BRAF), CRAF or neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog.
Servier research and development executive vice-president Claude Bertrand stated: “Our partnership to develop BDTX-4933 is an important opportunity in targeted cancer therapies, as we believe we can serve more people by helping the right patients find the right treatment, at the right time.
“We look forward to accelerating the development of this therapy as a potential best-in-class treatment for cancer patients.”
Black Diamond develops MasterKey therapies engineered for targeting a wide range of oncogenic mutations, aiming to overcome resistance, reduce toxicity in non-mutated cells and penetrate the brain to address central nervous system conditions.
Alongside BDTX-4933, the company is also progressing a brain-penetrant BDTX-1535 in a Phase II trial for NSCLC.
