Merck and Kelun-Biotech Advance in Cancer Treatment with Exclusive License Agreement for Investigational ADC Candidates

Exclusive License Agreement:
Merck and Kelun-Biotech entered into an exclusive license and collaboration agreement in December 2022 to develop seven investigational preclinical antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) for cancer treatment13.

Financial Terms:
Kelun-Biotech received an upfront payment of $175 million from Merck and is eligible for future development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments totaling up to $9.3 billion, plus tiered royalties on net sales for any commercialized ADC product13.

ADC Candidates:
The agreement includes ADC candidates targeting TROP2 (MK-2870/SKB-264), Nectin-4 (SKB410/MK-3120), and a new bispecific ADC (SKB571) with undisclosed targets25.

Development Progress:
Merck has initiated clinical trials for SKB264, targeting major indications such as breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and other cancers5.

Regulatory Milestones:
Kelun-Biotech has achieved regulatory milestones, including the acceptance of an IND application for SKB571 by China’s NMPA and the initiation of clinical trials for SKB26425.

Partnership Evolution:
The collaboration has seen revisions, including Merck handing back rights to SKB315/MK-1200 (targeting Claudin18.2) and opting in for SKB571, indicating strategic adjustments in their ADC development pipeline2.

Kelun-Biotech’s Pipeline:
The company has a diverse pipeline with 33 therapeutic programs, including 14 in clinical development, and has established a proprietary ADC platform with comprehensive capabilities15.

Sources:

1. https://www.merck.com/news/merck-and-kelun-biotech-announce-exclusive-license-and-collaboration-agreement-for-seven-investigational-antibody-drug-conjugate-candidates-for-the-treatment-of-cancer/

2. https://www.oncologypipeline.com/apexonco/merck-shuffles-kelun-deck-again

3. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221222005122/en/Merck-and-Kelun-Biotech-Announce-Exclusive-License-and-Collaboration-Agreement-for-Seven-Investigational-Antibody-drug-Conjugate-Candidates-for-the-Treatment-of-Cancer

5. https://synapse.patsnap.com/blog/kelun-biotech-first-dual-antibody-adc-in-collaboration-with-merck-submits-china-ind