BeiGene Inks Co-Development and Licensing Deals for Two of Janssen’s Anticancer Candidates

Beijing-based BeiGene negotiated exclusive licensing and co-development rights to Janssen Pharmaceutica’s clinical-stage anticancer compounds intetumumab (CNTO-95), and MTKi-327. Intetumumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody against α_v integrins (including α_vβ₃, α_vβ₅, α_vβ₁, and α_vβ₆), which is designed to inhibit angiogenesis and disrupt tumor cell growth, development, and metastasis.

MTKi-327 is a macrocyclic multitargeted kinase inhibitor that acts against tyrosine kinases including EGFR, erbB2, erbB4, VEGFR3, Ret, Ack-1, and Yes, which preclinical studies suggest directly inhibits tumor growth, and prevents tumor invasion and metastases by interfering with cancer cell motility and tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis.

Janssen has previously completed Phase I and II studies with intetumumab in melanoma, prostate cancer, and solid tumors. BeiGene has now licensed intetumumab (CNTO-95) for clinical development and commercialization within Australia, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. Under terms of the deal, the two firms will collaborate on (and share costs associated with) Phase III clinical trials of the antibody in melanoma, and will in addition evaluate additional indications for the treatment of solid tumors prevalent in China and Asia. No up-front payments are involved, but Janssen and BeiGene will each be each responsible for royalty obligations to each other based on sales in their respective territories.

BeiGene is separately paying Janssen an up-front fee for worldwide rights to develop and commercialize MTKi-327 for human therapeutic indications. The latter has already conducted Phase I studies with the candidate, and will receive development and commercialization milestone payments and royalties on future sales of the drug.