The best Pfizer cancer medications are small molecules, but trade has expanded the portfolio and pipeline of the pharmaceutical giant with biological medications. His last places the pharmaceutical giant in a camp of companies that have resorted to China for the opportunity to develop a type of partular immunotherapy.
The medication that Pfizer is licensed comes from 3sbio based in Shenyang, China, based in China. According to the terms of agreement announced earlier this week, Pfizer is paying $ 1.25 billion in advance for the global biological rights, excluding China. But the agreement gives Pfizer the option to also ensure the rights of marketing of the medication in China. In addition, the Big Pharma has committed to a capital investment of $ 100 million in 3sbio.
The 3sbio medicine, SSGJ-707, treats cancer when blocking two proteins. The first objective is PD-1, a protein in cells that prevents them from recognizing and fighting cancer cells. Merck Keytruda medication is one of those medications of this type, a monoclonal antibody designed to block PD-1. Keytruda’s success treating cancer has become immunotherapy into a mega-blockbuster product.
A growing number of companies is trying to improve the inhibition of PD-1 by adding another mechanism of action. The 3sbio medicine is one of them, part of an emerging group of specific Bi antibodies that block PD-1 and VEGF simultaneously. The 3sbio medicine is currently in clinical development in China for non -small cell lung cancer, metastatic colorectal cancer and gynecological tumors. 3sbio plans the first phase 3 test of this medicine in China at the end of this year.
Pfizer has not been shy when opening his checkbook to obtain drug candidates that diversify their wallet and deepen their pipe, partly in oncology. Two years ago, Pfizer paid $ 43 billion to acquire Seagen, which specializes in the development of antibody drug conjugates (ADC) for cancer. In a note sent to investors on Tuesday, Leadck Partners David Risinger analyzed wrote that the 3sbio medicine agreement is suitable for Pfizer.
“We believe that SSGJ-707 is very well with [Pfizer’s] Existing ADC portfolio and advertisements other important pipe candidate for [its] Oncology portfolio, “Risinger said.” However, we will need to evaluate your competitive differentiation given overcrowding in the category. “
Resorting to Chinese biotechnology companies for promising therapeutic candidates is a hot trend, and is accumulating pace as more companies try to have specific Bisp antibodies aimed at PD-1 and VEGF. Summit Therapeutics is one of them with a specific Bi license medication with headquarters in China. Last year, The Drug, Ivonescimab, defeated Merck Keytruda in a face -to -face test. Merck added a Biecpody antibody candidate for the same objectives last year, paying the Lonova medicines based in Shanghai $ 588 million in advance for the rights of LM-299, which was in phase 1 tests in China.
BIONTECH AND INSTILBIO also pursue PD-1 and VEGF with special antibodies, each with a license medication of a biotechnology company based in China. Meanwhile, Crescent Biopharma, based in Waltham, based in Massachusetts, aims to present an application of medicines for research purposes at the end of this year for its specific Bi antibody discovered and internally developed for PD-1 and VEGF; It is being made public in a reverse fusion to finance your clinical trial plans.
The PFIZER license agreement for SSGJ-707 still needs 3sbio shareholders and regulators. Companies expect the transaction to close in the third quarter of this year. After the closing of the agreement, Pfizer will make the capital investment of $ 100 million in 3SBIO, in accordance with the agreement. 3sbio could receive up to $ 4.8 billion if the medicine achieves milestones. Pfizer is also responsible for paying Chinese biotechnology royalties for the sales of an approved product.
The location of drug manufacturing operations has become an important problem as the pharmaceutical industry appears in the possible tariffs imposed on medications and ingredients of medications produced abroad. Pfizer said he plans to make a drug substance for SSGJ-707 in a site in Sanford, North Carolina, while the drug will occur in an installation in McPherson, Kansas.
Photo: Dominick Reuter/AFP, through Getty Images