GSK has signed an exclusive licence agreement for Hansoh Pharma’s B7-H3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) HS-20093 to treat solid tumours.
The deal grants GSK the rights to develop and commercialise the ADC worldwide, excluding mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
Hansoh is entitled to receive an upfront payment of $185m from GSK.
GSK will then make success-based milestone payments of $1.525bn.
On commercialising the product outside the agreed territories, Hansoh will receive royalty payments on net sales.
Comprising a fully humanised anti-B7-H3 monoclonal antibody jointly linked to topoisomerase inhibitor payload, HS-20093 is at the development stage to treat sarcoma, head and neck cancers, lung cancer and other solid tumours.
Phase I and II clinical trials of the ADC are progressing in China.
According to data from the Phase I ARTEMIS-001 trial for advanced solid tumours, HS-20093 demonstrated preliminary clinical activity in small-cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and sarcoma. A number of confirmed responses and a manageable safety profile were also observed.
GSK intends to commence Phase I trials of the ADC outside China in 2024.
GSK research and development oncology global head and senior vice-president Hesham Abdullah stated: “B7-H3 is highly expressed in a broad range of solid tumours where there remains a significant need for novel treatment options.
“We look forward to progressing this potential new treatment across several indications and in future potential combination approaches with our established portfolio.”
This development follows an earlier agreement signed by GSK and Hansoh in October 2023 for HS-20089.
A B7-H4 targeted ADC, HS-20089 is being analysed in Phase II trials in China to treat ovarian and endometrial cancer and other solid tumours.
GSK will gain rights to a second clinical-stage ADC broadening its oncology portfolio and complementing current expertise in developing therapies for solid tumours.
This month, the European Commission approved GSK’s Jemperli (dostarlimab) plus chemotherapy regimen for adult primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer patients.
