Debiopharm, ITM sign €300M cancer treatment deal

Debiopharm and ITM have entered into a significant licensing agreement for a novel radiopharmaceutical treatment currently under investigation for multiple types of cancer. The deal involves Debiopharm, a Swiss-based company, receiving upfront payments, development funds, and regulatory milestone payments totaling approximately €300 million, or roughly $331 million. Additionally, Debiopharm stands to earn commercial milestone payments and royalties in the low double-digits on future sales if the treatment proves successful.

In return, the German radiopharmaceutical biotech firm ITM gains exclusive worldwide rights for the development and commercialization of Debiopharm’s peptide-based theranostic pair. This pair consists of a therapeutic compound, Debio 0228, and a diagnostic imaging agent, Debio 0328. Currently, this combination is being tested in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial named GaLuCi, which targets clear cell renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and colorectal cancer.

The treatment combination developed by Debiopharm focuses on the carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) surface protein. This protein is known to play a significant role in tumor survival, growth, and metastasis. It is hoped that targeting this protein can provide an effective method for treating these cancers.

Andrew Cavey, CEO of ITM, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating that integrating a clinical-stage theranostic pair targeting the critical CA IX protein aligns well with ITM’s mission to broaden access to innovative radiopharmaceuticals on a global level.

Bertrand Ducrey, CEO of Debiopharm, echoed this optimism, highlighting the impressive potential of Debio 0328 as a stand-alone imaging agent. He indicated that the promising results with Debio 0328 have increased their confidence in the forthcoming evaluations of Debio 0228, the therapeutic component of the pair.

In June, Merck KGaA decided to halt Phase 3 trials for a cancer drug named xevinapant, which it had licensed from Debiopharm in 2021, after the drug failed to meet expectations. Despite this setback, Debiopharm continues to pursue advancements in cancer treatment through its collaboration with ITM.

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