Roche returns to Chinese biotech MediLink for another ADC pact
Roche has signed a new exclusive collaboration and licensing agreement with China’s MediLink Therapeutics for YL201, a B7-H3–targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) for multiple solid tumors.23
Under the deal, MediLink will receive up to US$570 million in upfront and near‑term milestone payments, plus additional development, regulatory and commercial milestones and tiered royalties on sales outside China.123
Roche obtains exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize YL201 worldwide, excluding mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, where MediLink retains rights.123
YL201 is built on MediLink’s proprietary TMALIN (Tumor Microenvironment‑Activatable LINker‑payload) ADC platform and targets the immune checkpoint protein B7-H3, which is highly expressed in many cancers.235
In China, YL201 has advanced into late-stage/registrational development, including Phase II/III or Phase III trials in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), with preliminary data showing promising objective response rates and survival benefits in second-line SCLC.123
The U.S. FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to YL201 for SCLC in June 2025, following earlier Orphan Drug Designations for SCLC, NPC and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).2
This pact extends Roche’s existing partnership with MediLink, which began in January 2024 with a separate, up-to-$1 billion ADC deal for YL211, a c-MET–targeting ADC for solid tumors.123
Roche’s move is part of its strategy to expand its ADC and lung cancer portfolio, doubling down on ADC approaches in SCLC and leveraging external innovation from Chinese biotech partners.136
Both YL201 and the earlier YL211 program use MediLink’s tumor-microenvironment–activatable TMalin linker-payload technology, which underpins a growing clinical ADC pipeline (13 TMalin-based ADCs in trials as of early 2026).25
Sources:
1. https://www.biospace.com/deals/roche-spends-570m-on-another-adc-agreement-with-chinas-medilink
2. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medilink-has-signed-an-additional-exclusive-licensing-agreement-with-roche-302656495.html
3. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/roche-returns-medilink-promise-570m-near-term-payments-another-adc
5. https://www.oncologypipeline.com/apexonco/roche-buys-tmalin-again