Pathos AI, a U.S.-based AI-driven biotech company, has purchased a license for next-generation cancer platform technology from a Chinese biotech firm.
On August 5, Chinese company Kangning Jierui announced that it has signed a licensing agreement to transfer overseas development and commercialization rights for its proprietary TROP2/HER3 dual-specificity antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate, JSKN016, to Pathos AI.
Under the agreement, Kangning Jierui will receive a non-refundable upfront payment of $125 million. Additionally, it could earn up to $2.093 billion in milestone payments based on clinical development, regulatory approvals, and commercialization achievements. Including the upfront payment, the total value of the licensing deal is approximately $2.2 billion (about 3.14 trillion won). Separately, Kangning Jierui will also receive royalties based on sales revenue. Furthermore, it has secured an option to purchase $62.5 million worth of Pathos AI preferred shares.
JSKN016, which Kangning Jierui is licensing for international markets, represents an advancement in dual-specificity ADC technology compared to existing antibody-drug conjugates. While most ADCs target a single antigen, dual-specificity ADCs can recognize two targets simultaneously with one antibody. JSKN016 targets both TROP2 and HER3 proteins found on the surface of cancer cells. TROP2 is known to be overexpressed in various solid tumors, including breast, lung, and gastric cancers, while HER3 is associated with cancer growth and treatment resistance. Targeting both proteins simultaneously is seen as a potential way to overcome the limitations of single-target therapies.
Kangning Jierui is one of China's leading ADC development companies, focusing on the development of next-generation cancer platforms that combine dual antibodies and ADCs. Pathos AI has its own AI-based platform for developing cancer therapies, utilizing AI to discover candidate compounds. JSKN016 is the fourth candidate compound secured by Pathos AI.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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