Roche and Innovent agree $1billion global licence for a novel DLL3 antibody drug conjugate 

Innovent Biologics, a biopharmaceutical company based in Shuzou, China, has agreed a collaboration with Roche to develop IBI3009, a novel DLL3-targeting antibody drug conjugate (ADC) candidate. IBI3009 has already received investigational new drug approvals in Australia, China, and USA, with its first patient being dosed last December in their Phase 1 study. IBI3009 is targeting treatment options for patients with advanced small cell lung cancer.

DLL3 is an antigen with low expression in normal tissues but is overexpressed in certain cancers particularly small-cell lung cancer and other neuroendocrine tumours. Innovent has developed IBI3009 using its proprietary novel topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (TOPO1i) platform. IBI3009 has shown encouraging anti-tumour activity in multiple tumour-bearing mouse models, particularly in chemo-resistant tumour types, and has demonstrated a favourable safety profile.

“We are delighted to enter a strategic collaboration once again with Roche, a global leader in oncology, to advance our potentially best-in-class DLL3 ADC candidate.,” said Dr. Samuel Zhang, chief business officer of Innovent. 

Under the agreement, Innovent has granted Roche exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise IBI3009. The two parties will jointly focus on the early-stage development of this ADC candidate, beyond which Roche takes over development. The deal sees Innovent eligible for up to $1billion if fully realised.

“We are excited to further develop this promising investigational treatment for patients with small cell lung cancer. This partnership [with Innovent] builds on Roche's long history of innovation in the area of ADCs, to address the unmet needs of patients with solid tumours,” said Boris L. Zaïtra, head of corporate business development at Roche.

—Additional reporting by Alan Booth