IDEAYA Biosciences Announces Agreement for Potential First-in-Class Bispecific ADC Program with Biocytogen

IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc., a precision medicine oncology company, has entered into a significant agreement with Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., a global biotechnology firm, for an exclusive worldwide license option on a potentially groundbreaking B7H3/PTK7 bispecific antibody drug conjugate (BsADC) program. This partnership aims to develop a first-in-class therapeutic that targets multiple solid tumor types.

The B7H3/PTK7 bispecific antibody drug conjugate program is designed to treat solid tumors, primarily lung, colorectal, and head and neck cancers, as these tumor types exhibit significant co-expression of B7H3 and PTK7. This innovative therapeutic approach aligns with IDEAYA's strategy to create first-in-class therapies that combine antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with small molecule DNA Damage Repair (DDR) therapies to improve patient outcomes.

Yujiro S. Hata, President and CEO of IDEAYA Biosciences, emphasized that the B7H3/PTK7 BsADC program has the potential to be a monotherapy for several solid tumors. This development complements IDEAYA's broader vision of integrating ADCs with DDR-based treatments, thus offering enhanced benefits to patients.

Dr. Yuelei Shen, President and CEO of Biocytogen, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with IDEAYA. He highlighted the potential of combining Biocytogen's advanced RenLite® platform and proprietary linker-payload technology with IDEAYA's expertise in drug development. This partnership aims to expedite the advancement of the B7H3/PTK7 BsADC program and potentially deliver a powerful new therapy to patients.

The terms of the agreement grant IDEAYA an option for an exclusive worldwide license for the B7H3/PTK7 BsADC program. Biocytogen will receive an upfront fee, and upon IDEAYA's exercise of the option, the agreement includes additional fees, development and regulatory milestone payments, and single-digit royalties on net sales. The total potential payments, including these milestones, could sum up to $406.5 million, with $100 million allocated for development and regulatory milestones.

Preclinical data suggest that the B7H3/PTK7 BsADC program can function not only as a stand-alone treatment but also in combination with IDEAYA's DDR-focused therapies, such as the PARG inhibitor IDE161. IDEAYA aims to nominate a development candidate for this program by the second half of 2024.

IDEAYA Biosciences is dedicated to the discovery and development of targeted therapies for cancer patients, utilizing molecular diagnostics to identify the most responsive patient populations. The company focuses on synthetic lethality, an emerging class of precision medicine targets, to develop its treatments.

Biocytogen, headquartered in Beijing with branches in the USA and Germany, specializes in the research and development of novel antibody-based drugs. The company leverages its gene-editing technology and proprietary RenMice® platforms to discover monoclonal, bispecific, and multispecific antibodies. Biocytogen's extensive portfolio includes over 100 therapeutic antibody projects and collaborations with multinational pharmaceutical companies.

This strategic collaboration between IDEAYA and Biocytogen holds promise for advancing a novel therapeutic approach in oncology, potentially offering new hope to patients battling various solid tumors.

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