A roundup of bio/pharmaceutical partnering news from Gilead/Tubulis and Takeda/Keros. 

* Gilead, Tubulis In $465-M ADC Cancer Drug Pact 
* Takeda, Keros Therapeutics in $200-M Cancer Drug Licensing Pact 

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Gilead, Tubulis In $465-M ADC Cancer Drug Pact 
Gilead Sciences and Tubulis, a Munich, Germany-based bio/pharmaceutical company, have entered into an exclusive option and license agreement to discover and develop an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) against a solid tumor target, in a deal worth up to $465 million ($20 million upfront, $30-million option fee, and $415 million in milestone payments). 

Through this agreement, Gilead will gain access to Tubulis’ proprietary ADC platforms, Tubutecan, a linker–payload platform, and another ADC technology platform, Alco5. The companies will collaborate to design a topoisomerase I inhibitor-based ADC candidate with biophysical properties and stability to address certain challenges such as durability and off-target toxicity. 

Under the agreement, Tubulis will receive an upfront payment of $20 million and, if Gilead exercises its option, a separate option exercise fee of $30 million. In addition, Tubulis will be eligible for development and commercialization milestone payments totaling up to $415 million, plus mid-single to low double-digit tiered royalties on sales of marketed products resulting from the collaboration. Tubulis will lead early-stage research and development activities for the ADC program. If Gilead exercises its option to exclusively license the program, Gilead will be responsible for further development and commercialization activities for all products resulting from the collaboration. 

Source: Gilead Sciences 

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Takeda, Keros Therapeutics in $200-M Cancer Drug Licensing Pact 
Takeda and Keros Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based bio/pharmaceutical company, have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement to further develop, manufacture, and commercialize elritercept, a drug for treating specialized forms of anemia, in a deal worth up to $200 million. 

Elritercept is a late-stage investigational activin inhibitor designed to treat anemia associated with certain hematologic cancers, including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myelofibrosis (MF). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted fast-track designation for the development of elritercept for very low-, low- and intermediate-risk MDS.  

Elritercept is currently in two ongoing Phase II clinical trials; one in patients with very low-, low- or intermediate-risk MDS and one in patients with MF. The Phase III Renew trial evaluating elritercept in adult patients with transfusion-dependent anemia with very low-, low- or intermediate-risk MDS will begin enrollment soon (as reported on December 3, 2024). Takeda plans to evaluate elritercept in these cancers across patient segments and lines of therapy. 

Under the agreement, Takeda will receive an exclusive worldwide license to further develop, manufacture, and commercialize elritercept in all indications and territories outside of mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Takeda will be responsible for all development, manufacturing, and commercialization as of the effective date of the agreement. Takeda will provide Keros Therapeutics with an upfront payment of $200 million and potential payments relating to regulatory, development, and commercial sales milestones as well as royalties on net sales. The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including completion of antitrust reviews. 

Source: Takeda