Eisai and Bliss Biopharma collaborate on US$2 billion oncology deal

JAPAN — Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai Co. has entered into a joint development agreement with China-based startup Bliss Biopharmaceutical for the advancement of BB-1701, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting HER2-expressing solid tumors.

ADCs represent a cutting-edge approach in cancer drug research and development, combining the precise targeting capabilities of monoclonal antibodies with potent cytotoxic drugs to effectively eliminate cancer cells.

Since the approval of the first ADC, Mylotarg, by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000, a total of 14 ADCs have received regulatory clearance worldwide.

The collaboration between Eisai and Bliss Biopharmaceutical involves a joint development agreement with the potential for a remarkable payout of up to US$2 billion, contingent upon the achievement of key milestones in development, regulatory approval, and sales.

BB-1701, the focal point of this strategic partnership, consists of Eisai’s anti-cancer agent eribulin, linked with an anti-HER2 antibody utilizing a proprietary technology platform.

This innovative ADC holds promise for delivering anti-tumor effects in various solid tumors, including breast and lung cancers.

The groundwork for this ADC’s development was laid with a license agreement inked in 2018, granting BlissBio exclusive global rights to employ eribulin as a payload in several ADCs.

Building upon the progress made in ongoing Phase I/II clinical trials of BB-1701 conducted by BlissBio, both companies have decided to collaborate on advancing this potential breakthrough therapy.

As part of the joint development agreement, Eisai will make upfront and milestone payments to BlissBio while spearheading a Phase II clinical trial specifically targeting breast cancer.

Furthermore, Eisai secures option rights for the global development and commercialization of BB-1701, with the exception of Greater China.

This collaboration reflects the unwavering commitment of key industry players such as Eisai, Piramal Pharma Solution, Pfizer Inc., Seagen Inc., and Roche to invest in the development of novel ADCs for cancer treatment, driving substantial growth in the market.

For instance, Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS) recently invested approximately US$74.6 million in expanding ADC production facilities in Scotland to meet the rising demand for commercial ADCs in the UK.

Likewise, Seagen has initiated phase-1 clinical trials for two ADCs, SGN-B7H4V and SGN-PDL1V, in patients with advanced solid tumors, while also progressing with clinical trials for the treatment of First-Line Metastatic Urothelial Cancer (mUC) through their collaboration with Astellas.

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global antibody-drug conjugates market, valued at US$5.81 billion in 2021, is projected to experience a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.4% from 2022 to 2030.

This growth is primarily fueled by the escalating incidence of cancer worldwide, with Cancer Research UK estimating that the number of new cancer cases is expected to reach 27.5 million by 2040.

Lifestyle factors such as smoking, unhealthy diet, obesity, and alcohol consumption contribute significantly to the rising cancer burden globally.

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.