Deals
GSK Bets Up to $1.3B on First-of-Its-Kind Dual-Targeting Cancer Therapy
GSK has agreed to pay Hutchmed $110 million upfront and potentially about $1.19 billion more in milestone payments and royalties for majority rights to HMPL-A830, an antibody-targeted therapeutic conjugate that links an EGFR-targeting antibody to a small-molecule KRAS blocker. Hutchmed reported synergistic anti-tumor activity and durable responses in preclinical testing. The therapy is slated to enter the clinic this year, with Hutchmed overseeing Phase 1 studies and GSK taking over global development outside mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The deal adds to GSK's growing oncology portfolio and extends its streak of partnerships with China-based biotechnology companies.
GSK is spending up to $1.3 billion on a first-of-its-kind cancer therapy slated to enter the clinic this year.
In a deal announced Thursday, GSK agreed to pay Hutchmed $110 million up front, and potentially roughly $1.19 billion more in milestone payments and royalties, for a majority of the rights to a treatment known as HMPL-A830. That treatment is what Hutchmed refers to as an “antibody-targeted therapeutic conjugate,” and could potentially address multiple tumor types.
Typical antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs, link a targeting antibody to a toxin. They’ve become a pillar of cancer care in recent years, but still have limitations restricting their reach. Many drug developers have been working on new ways to improve the technology.
HMPL-A830 is one example. The therapy links an antibody targeting the well-studied EGFR protein to a small-molecule payload designed to block another popular cancer driver, KRAS. Hutchmed claimed the approach has produced “synergistic anti-tumor activity” and “durable” responses in preclinical testing, as well as shown the potential to outperform a traditional antibody or small-molecule drug.
EGFR and KRAS are each the focus of many marketed medicines. EGFR mutations are observed in about 10% to 15% of lung tumors, while KRAS is mutated in a large percentage of colorectal, pancreatic and lung cancers. In its statement, Hutchmed noted that a significant portion of these tumors that lack a “safe and durable” KRAS therapy, a need HMPL-A830 is “designed to address.”
“The dual KRAS-EGFR mechanism of HMPL-A830 has the potential to significantly improve upon current standard of care,” said Hesham Abdullah, GSK’s head of oncology, in a statement.
Hutchmed will oversee Phase 1 studies, with GSK taking over global development afterwards outside of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
The partnership with Hutchmed adds to a growing roster of deals GSK has entered into to expand its oncology portfolio. It also extends a streak of partnerships with China-based biotechnology companies.