Bristol-Myers Squibb forges US$100 million deal to advance novel antibody-drug conjugate for cancer

USA — Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has embarked on a groundbreaking partnership, investing a significant upfront sum of US$100 million to acquire an Orum Therapeutics candidate.

The agreement, with a potential value of US$180 million, centers around ORM-6151, a revolutionary compound that combines the attributes of ADCs and protein degraders—a growing therapeutic field in oncology.

ORM-6151 hinges on an antibody component designed to target the CD33 receptor, coupled with a molecule that dismantles GSPT1, an intracellular protein linked to the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of tumor cells, particularly in breast cancers and blood cancers.

South Korea-based Orum has already garnered FDA approval for a phase 1 clinical trial of ORM-6151, slated to benefit patients grappling with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Orum believes that preclinical data for ORM-6151 underscores its potential for superior tolerability compared to existing treatments like Pfizer’s Mylotarg and BMS’ early-stage clinical candidate, eragidomide (CC-90009), which targets GSPT1.

Mylotarg, an ADC aimed at CD33, has been authorized for the management of relapsed or refractory AML since 2017.

This groundbreaking partnership marks the second instance of merging ADC and protein degrader technologies in recent weeks, following Seagen’s extensive collaboration with Nurix, valued at US$3.4 billion, with an initial payment of US$60 million.

Notably, BMS has a well-established history in the realm of protein degradation, a legacy stemming from its acquisition of Celgene, which has brought drugs like Revlimid and Pomalyst into the company’s portfolio—both recognized for their effectiveness in treating blood cancers.

Sung Joo Le, CEO of Orum, underscored the significance of the partnership with BMS, stating that it “validates Orum’s pioneering approach to enhance the therapeutic window and unlock the full potential of targeted protein degraders, precisely delivering them to cancer cells through antibody-drug conjugates.”

This partnership stands as the latest addition to BMS’s series of strategic moves in the ADC arena.

Earlier agreements include a partnership with Eisai, valued at up to US$3 billion, for MORAb-202, a folate receptor alpha-targeting drug in clinical trials for ovarian and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as a US$1 billion collaboration with Tubulis, focusing on ADC stabilizing technology.

BMS’s diverse pipeline includes promising candidates such as Claudin 18.2-directed ADC BMS-986476 for gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancer, which resulted from the US$4.1billion acquisition of Turning Point Therapeutics in 2021, and a BCMA-directed ADC for multiple myeloma.

In a noteworthy development in the field of oncology, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) secured a significant milestone in October when it successfully acquired Mirati Therapeutics, a highly sought-after entity in the pharmaceutical industry.

This acquisition had long been the subject of speculation, with rumors swirling for several years. Ultimately, Mirati decided to join forces with the New York-based pharmaceutical giant, inking a deal valued at US$5.8 billion.

Regulatory documents unveiled a competitive race to finalize the acquisition, with two other major “global pharmaceutical companies” vying for the opportunity.

For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.