Pfizer acquires rights to 3SBio's bispecific antibody in $6bn deal

Pfizer has entered into a significant agreement with 3SBio, a Chinese biotechnology company, to acquire exclusive rights to their investigational bispecific antibody known as SSGJ-707. This deal, valued at over $6 billion, revolves around a promising candidate currently undergoing clinical trials in China for several cancer types, including metastatic colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and various gynaecological tumors.

SSGJ-707 has shown encouraging results in early efficacy and safety trials, making it an attractive prospect in the realm of cancer treatments. Pfizer is keen on the potential of SSGJ-707, with plans for 3SBio to commence the first phase 3 study of the drug in China within this year. The agreement outlines that 3SBio and its subsidiaries, Shenyang Sunshine Pharmaceutical and 3S Guojian Pharmaceutical, will grant Pfizer an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize SSGJ-707 beyond the Chinese market, while also offering Pfizer the option to secure commercialization rights within China.

As part of this agreement, Pfizer will provide an upfront payment of $1.25 billion to 3SBio. Moreover, 3SBio stands to gain up to $4.8 billion through various milestone payments related to development, regulatory achievements, and commercial success. Additionally, 3SBio will earn tiered double-digit royalties on potential future sales of the drug, further enhancing the financial benefits of this partnership.

Pfizer is expected to complete a $100 million equity investment in 3SBio when the transaction concludes, anticipated in the third quarter of this year. This investment underscores Pfizer's commitment to the collaboration and its confidence in SSGJ-707's potential impact on the cancer treatment landscape.

SSGJ-707 is not the only bispecific antibody that has caught Pfizer's attention this year. Earlier, Pfizer collaborated with Summit Therapeutics on a clinical trial aimed at evaluating ivonescimab, another bispecific antibody, in combination with its antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). This partnership, announced in February, focuses on investigating ivonescimab alongside several of Pfizer’s ADCs across various solid tumor environments.

Megan O’Meara, head of oncology early stage development at Pfizer, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating that they are advancing the exploration of ADCs in strategic, distinct combinations with a bispecific antibody crafted to tackle the unique complexities of tumor biology. This move represents a new wave of investigational targeted combinations that hold the potential to revolutionize treatment options for cancer patients.

Beyond the PD-1/VEGF domain, Pfizer has also forged a partnership with Flagship Pioneering to delve into autoimmune disease therapeutics. Announced in April, the alliance with Flagship's Pioneering Medicines aims to discover selective inhibitors for autoimmune conditions. This collaboration seeks to unearth compounds that could pave the way for the development of next-generation therapeutics for these disorders.

Through these strategic partnerships and acquisitions, Pfizer demonstrates its commitment to advancing cancer treatments and exploring innovative therapies across various diseases. The acquisition of exclusive rights to 3SBio's SSGJ-707 positions Pfizer at the forefront of cancer research, with the potential to bring transformative treatment options to the global market.