Ono Pharmaceutical Partners with LigaChem Biosciences for ADC Research and Development

Partnership Agreement:
Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and LigaChem Biosciences, Inc. have entered into a license agreement for LCB97, a pre-clinical stage antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) aimed at treating solid tumors.

LCB97 Details:
LCB97 targets the L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM), which is highly expressed in multiple solid tumors, and has shown strong anti-tumor effects in preclinical studies.

Exclusive Rights:
Ono Pharmaceutical has secured exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize LCB97 for solid tumors, with potential payments to LigaChem Biosciences totaling up to $700 million, plus tiered royalties based on net sales.

Research Collaboration:
The companies have also entered into a research collaboration and license agreement to generate novel ADC candidates using LigaChem Biosciences' ConjuAll ADC platform, with Ono having exclusive global rights to these new therapies.

ConjuAll ADC Platform:
This platform technology overcomes existing limitations of ADCs by providing site-specific stable bioconjugation, cancer-selective linker activation, and cancer-selective activation of potent payloads, enabling effective targeting of cancer cells while minimizing damage to normal cells.

Market Impact:
The ADC market is expected to reach over $13 billion by 2026, highlighting the significance of this partnership in advancing cancer treatment options.