Samsung Bioepis and Phrontline Biopharma have announced that the companies have entered into a global collaboration agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialise two ADC assets: TJ108, a bispecific and dual-payload ADC, as well as another asset yet to be named.
In addition, Samsung Bioepis will receive an exclusive license from Phrontline for one topoisomerase-1 inhibitor (TOP1i) payload, which is applied to Samsung Bioepis’ ADC pipeline.
Phrontline’s TJ108 is a TOP1i and tubulin inhibitor-based ADC directed against Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 3 (HER3).
These are targets that are overexpressed in a variety of cancers, which contribute to aggressive growth and metastasis.
Under the terms of the agreement, Phrontline will receive an upfront payment and will be eligible to receive additional milestone payments tied to key development and regulatory achievements.
“We are excited to partner with Phrontline in developing and advancing differentiated ADCs that target a broad range of indications,” said Kyung-Ah Kim, President and CEO, Samsung Bioepis.
“We will continue to explore new business opportunities to address unmet needs of patients, leveraging our proven development platforms.”
“Phrontline has honed its bispecific targeting technology to enhance payload delivery efficiency and has advanced an innovative dual-linker payload (DLP) platform that enables the simultaneous delivery of two payloads with balanced potency and distinct mechanisms of action through a branched-linker architecture, while supporting scalable and efficient one-step conjugation."
"This partnership accelerates our vision to establish bispecific, dual-payload ADCs as a new class of precision oncology medicines,” said Zhaoyuan ‘Tony’ Chen, founder and CEO of Phrontline Biopharma.
“Together with Samsung Bioepis, we will scale the DLP platform — beginning with TJ108 — to address resistance, heterogeneity and durability challenges that limit today’s single-payload, single-target ADCs.”
Samsung Bioepis is expanding its pipeline beyond biosimilars to fulfil its mission of broadening patient access to treatments in the areas of unmet therapeutic needs.
The development of ADCs could add to the company’s broad spectrum of therapeutic portfolio that covers immunology, oncology, ophthalmology, haematology, nephrology, neurology and endocrinology.