A roundup of bio/pharmaceutical partnering news from Novo Nordisk/Valo Health, Astellas/Sangamo Therapeutics, Roche/Innovent Biologics, Pfizer/Sangamo Therapeutics and Eli Lilly and Company/Alchemab. 

* Novo Nordisk, Valo Health In $4.6-Bn AI-Driven Cardiometabolic Drug Pact 
* Astellas, Sangamo Therapeutics in $1.3 Bn Capsid License Pact
* Roche, Innovent Biologics In $1.08-Bn ADC Pact 
* Pfizer, Sangamo Therapeutics End Gene-Therapy Pact 
* Lilly, Alchemab In ALS Drug Pact 

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Novo Nordisk, Valo Health In $4.6-Bn AI-Driven Cardiometabolic Drug Pact 
Novo Nordisk and Valo Health, a Boston-based healthcare company applying artificial intelligence in drug discovery and development, have entered into an expanded agreement to discover and develop treatments for obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, in a deal worth up to $4.6 billion ($190 million upfront and $4.4 billion in milestone payments). 

The companies originally partnered in September 2023 under an agreement that allowed for the development of up to 11 drug programs, primarily focused on cardiovascular disease, through which Valo was eligible to receive up to $2.7 billion in milestone payments, plus R&D funding and potential royalty payments. 

Under the expanded agreement, Valo is entitled to receive an upfront payment, an equity investment by Novo Nordisk, and a potential near-term milestone payment, totaling $190 million, and is now eligible to receive milestone payments for up to 20 drug programs, an addition of nine new drug programs, in a deal now totaling approximately $4.6 billion, plus R&D funding and potential royalty payments. 

The collaboration has already led to the identification of several novel targets that may form the basis of differentiated cardiometabolic drug programs, and the companies are working on multiple small-molecule preclinical drug-discovery programs. 

Source: Novo Nordisk 

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Astellas, Sangamo Therapeutics in $1.3 Bn Capsid License Pact 
Astellas and Sangamo Therapeutics, a Richmond, California-based genomic medicine company, have entered into a license agreement allowing Astellas to use Sangamo’s proprietary neurotropic adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid, STAC-BBB, in a deal worth up to $1.3 billion ($20 million upfront and $1.3 billion in milestone payments). The companies had announced the deal last month (December 16, 2024).  

STAC-BBB has demonstrated blood–brain barrier penetration and neuronal transduction in nonhuman primates, according to information from Sangamo Therapeutics. The agreement grants Astellas a worldwide exclusive license to utilize the STAC-BBB capsid for one target, with the right to add up to four additional targets after paying additional licensed target fees to deliver their intravenously administered genomic medicines to treat certain neurological diseases. 

Under the agreement, Sangamo is responsible for completing technology transfer related to the STAC-BBB capsid. Astellas is responsible for all research, preclinical, and clinical development, regulatory interactions, manufacturing, and global commercialization of the resulting gene-therapy products. Sangamo will receive a $20-million upfront license fee from Astellas and is eligible to earn up to $1.3 billion in additional licensed target fees and milestone payments across the five potential neurology disease targets, as well as tiered mid-to-high single digit royalties on potential net sales of such products, subject to certain specified reductions. 

Source: Sangamo Therapeutics 

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Roche, Innovent Biologics In $1.08-Bn ADC Pact 
Roche and Innovent Biologics, a Shanghai-based bio/pharmaceutical company, have entered an agreement to advance the development of Innovent’s IBI3009, a cancer antibody drug conjugate (ADC) candidate, in a deal worth up to $1.08 billion ($80 million upfront and $1 billion in milestone payments).  

IBI3009 has obtained investigational new drug (IND) approvals in Australia, China, and the US, with the first patient for the Phase I study dosed in December 2024. This collaboration is focused on developing treatments for advanced small cell lung cancer. 

Under the agreement, Innovent has granted Roche exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize IBI3009. The two parties will jointly focus on the early-stage development of this ADC candidate, after which Roche will take over full development. Innovent will receive an upfront payment of $80 million and is eligible to receive up to $1 billion in development and commercial milestone payments, along with tiered royalties on net sales. 

Source: Innovent Biologics 

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Pfizer, Sangamo Therapeutics End Gene-Therapy Pact 
Sangamo Therapeutics, a Richmond, California-based genomic medicine company, has announced it will regain development and commercialization rights to giroctocogene fitelparvovec, an investigational gene-therapy product candidate, which it had co-developed with, and licensed to Pfizer, following Pfizer’s decision to terminate the global collaboration and license agreement. The companies announced the ending of the pact last month (December 30, 2024).  

Giroctocogene fitelparvovec is being developed to treat adults with moderately severe-to-severe hemophilia. Sangamo says it intends to explore all options to advance the program, including seeking a potential new collaboration partner. Sangamo says Pfizer indicated to Sangamo that the termination reflected Pfizer’s decision not to proceed with the biologics license application and the marketing authorization application submissions for, or to pursue commercialization of, giroctocogene fitelparvovec. 

The collaboration and license agreement with Pfizer will terminate, effective April 21, 2025, at which time Pfizer will be required to transition the giroctocogene fitelparvovec program back to Sangamo. All clinical trial participants will continue to be monitored as planned during the transition period. 

Source: Sangamo Therapeutics 

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Lilly, Alchemab In ALS Drug Pact 
Eli Lilly and Company and Alchemab Therapeutics, a London-based bio/pharmaceutical company, have entered an agreement to discover therapeutic candidates to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to a Lou Gehrig’s disease, and a neurological disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.  

Alchemab’s technology platform uses patient samples from individuals with unusually slow rates of disease progression to identify antibodies associated with resilience to disease and not seen in disease progressors. The collaboration will use Alchemab’s technology to identify antibodies associated with resilience in ALS patient samples and advance the most promising candidates. 

Under the agreement, Alchemab will collaborate with Lilly to discover, develop, and commercialize up to five therapeutics. Alchemab will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and is eligible to receive discovery, development, and commercialization milestone payments, plus royalties. 

Source: Alchemab Therapeutics