On October 30, 2023 Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd ("Hengrui Pharma"), a global pharmaceutical company focused on scientific and technological innovation, reported a licensing agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, for its next-generation potent and selective PARP1 (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1) inhibitor, HRS-1167 (Press release, Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, OCT 30, 2023, View Source [SID1234636462]). This is Hengrui’s first strategic collaboration with a global pharmaceutical company. The agreement includes an option to an exclusive license for its innovative Claudin-18.2 antibody drug conjugate (ADC) SHR-A1904.
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
"Given the high unmet need in oncology, we are excited to work closely with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to bring Hengrui’s innovations to cancer patients worldwide," said Frank Jiang, board member and Chief Strategy Officer of Hengrui Pharma. "Partnering with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, on our PARP franchise is an important milestone on Hengrui’s globalization journey. We look forward to advancing our molecules rapidly through development and reaching patients in need."
Under the terms of the agreement, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, will provide Hengrui Pharma with an upfront payment of €160 million. Hengrui Pharma will receive payments for technology transfer as well as an option exercise for the Claudin-18.2 ADC for up to €90 million. Upon the achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones, Hengrui is eligible to receive royalty payments on net sales of such products by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Potential payments may total up to €1.4 billion with up to double-digit royalty payments.
"This partnership with Hengrui fully aligns with both our external innovation ambition and our oncology research and development strategy by diversifying our robust internal pipeline in our focus areas of DNA damage response inhibition and antibody-drug conjugates," said Danny Bar-Zohar, Global Head of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer for the Healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "The synergies of these assets with our portfolio offer broad potential for development and the opportunity to advance more therapeutic options for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers. We look forward to leveraging the significant expertise of Hengrui and our strong collaboration ahead."
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, will receive exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize HRS-1167 worldwide, outside of mainland China, an exclusive option to develop, manufacture and commercialize SHR-A1904 worldwide, outside of mainland China, and an option to co-promote HRS-1167 and SHR-A1904 in mainland China.
About HRS-1167 and SHR-A1904
HRS-1167 is a selective, highly active and orally available PARP1 small molecule inhibitor internally developed by Hengrui with intellectual property rights, which belongs to the second generation of PARP inhibitors. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is key in DNA repair pathways. Compared to first-generation PARP inhibitors, HRS-1167 has higher selectivity and affinity for PARP1 and induces DNA trapping. HRS-1167 is currently in early clinical development (Phase 1) and has the potential to be used as a monotherapy and as part of a combination therapy for treating a wider range of patients.
SHR-A1904 is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) targeting Claudin 18.2, internally developed by Hengrui with intellectual property rights. It binds to the target antigen on the surface of tumor cells, allowing the drug to be endocytosed by cells and releasing a small-molecule toxin to kill tumor cells. The product is currently in clinical Phase 1 trials in China, U.S. and Australia. Currently, no Claudin 18.2 targeting ADC product has received marketing authorization.