Hansoh Pharma Licenses Global Rights of Third-Gen EGFR-TKI Almonertinib to EQRx for $100 Million

Reposted from | Medical Perspectives

Today, Hansoh Pharma announced that Hansoh (Shanghai) Health Technology and Hansoh Pharma have entered into a strategic collaboration and license agreement with EQRx, granting EQRx an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the former’s third-generation EGFR-TKI, almonertinib (and any products containing or consisting of almonertinib), outside of China. The therapeutic areas covered include cancer, cancer-related conditions, and immune-inflammatory diseases. The upfront payment and regulatory and development milestone payments for this transaction amount to approximately USD 100 million.

Pursuant to the license agreement, Hansoh (Shanghai) Health Technology and Hansoh Pharma are entitled to receive an upfront payment and registration and development milestone payments totaling approximately USD 100 million (excluding other potential commercial milestone payments and tiered royalties based on net sales). Such milestone payments shall become due and payable upon the first occurrence of the relevant milestone events.

Aumolertinib is a third-generation EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)-TKI (tyrosine kinase inhibitor) developed by Hansoh Pharma. It was approved for marketing in China this March for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed on prior EGFR-TKI therapy and are T790M mutation-positive. Notably, this is not only the first domestically produced third-generation EGFR-TKI approved in China, but also the second third-generation EGFR-TKI approved globally.

According to the press release previously issued by Hansoh Pharma, clinical study data demonstrated that almonertinib monotherapy exhibited excellent efficacy and safety: the median progression-free survival (mPFS) reached 12.3 months, making it the best-performing third-generation EGFR-TKI for second-line treatment; the objective response rate (ORR) was 68.9%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 93.4%; furthermore, it effectively controlled brain lesions, with an ORR of 61.5% in patients with brain metastases.

Lung cancer ranks first among all cancers in both incidence and mortality. Lung cancer is classified into non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), with NSCLC accounting for 80%–85% of cases. Approximately 80% of patients with NSCLC exhibit overexpression of the EGFR protein. Furthermore, about one-third of lung cancer patients harbor EGFR gene mutations. Although the advent of first- and second-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) provided treatment options for patients with EGFR-sensitive mutations, resistance and disease progression typically occur after approximately one year of therapy, primarily due to the T790M mutation. Consequently, the emergence of third-generation EGFR-TKIs has offered new therapeutic options for these resistant patients.

EQRx is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative medicines at affordable prices. This collaboration will help accelerate the clinical development of almonertinib outside China, benefiting more cancer patients in need worldwide.

References:

[1] Hansoh Pharma and EQRx Enter into License Agreement. Retrieved Jul 23, 2020, from https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H2_AN202007231393508405_1.pdf

[2] Hansoh Pharma’s Ameile® Approved: The World’s Second Third-Generation EGFR-TKI Innovative Drug. Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://www.prnasia.com/story/275416-1.shtml

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