Bayer Enters Global License Agreement with Puhe BioPharma for Phase I Clinical-Stage PRMT5 Inhibitor Targeting MTAP-Deleted Tumors

Berlin, Germany and Beijing, China, March 26, 2025 – Bayer and Suzhou Puhe Biopharma Co., Ltd. (Puhe BioPharma) announced today that they have entered into a global licensing agreement for Puhe BioPharma’s oral small-molecule PRMT5 inhibitor. This inhibitor selectively targets MTAP-deleted tumors. Under the agreement, Bayer has obtained exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitors. Bayer has already enrolled the first patient in a Phase I first-in-human dose-escalation clinical trial. Codenamed BAY 3713372, the trial is evaluating the MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor for the treatment of MTAP-deleted solid tumors.

“We look forward to unlocking the potential of PRMT5 inhibitors to help patients with MTAP-deficient tumors and improve the generally poor prognosis associated with these conditions,” said Dr. Juergen Eckhardt, Head of Global Business Development and Licensing at Bayer Pharmaceuticals Division. “This innovative mechanism demonstrates significant potential by highly selectively targeting cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. This will strongly support our mission to build the most transformative and differentiated precision oncology pipeline in the industry.”

Bayer closely monitors China’s booming biopharmaceutical industry and highly recognizes its high-level innovative achievements. The collaboration with Puhe BioPharma marks a key milestone in Bayer’s partnership with leading Chinese biopharmaceutical companies to enter the global pharmaceutical market, signaling that Bayer’s open, collaborative innovation in China has advanced to a higher stage.

“We have observed that MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitors hold significant potential in the treatment of MTAP-deficient tumors. PH020 (now named BAY 3713372), an MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor, has demonstrated competitive selectivity and activity for the PRMT5–MTA complex, as well as brain penetration capabilities, in preclinical studies,” said Guo Yongqi, CEO of Puhe BioPharma. “We are delighted to partner with Bayer, a global leader in life sciences, to advance this next-generation PRMT5 inhibitor into clinical development. We look forward to working with Bayer to bring this therapeutic option to patients worldwide.”

PRMT5 (protein arginine methyltransferase 5) and the specific gene MTAP (metabolic enzyme 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase) play critical roles in cellular metabolism and are essential for cell survival. Approximately 10% to 30% of cancers involve MTAP deletion¹, leading to elevated levels of MTA (methylthioadenosine) in tumor cells. BAY 3713372 is designed to bind to the PRMT5-MTA complex, specifically targeting this vulnerability in tumors.

As a global leader in innovation and market presence within the field of oncology treatment, Bayer has introduced multiple blockbuster drugs to patients worldwide and in China over the years through its own R&D efforts and external collaborations. Meanwhile, Bayer also recognizes that effective treatment options remain lacking for many types of cancer.

“MTAP gene deletion is present in a variety of tumors, including cancers with currently few effective treatment options or poor prognosis, such as pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma,” said Dr. Dominik Ruettinger, Global Head of Oncology Research and Early Development at Bayer Pharmaceuticals Division. “We look forward to advancing this program, driven by our commitment to developing innovative medicines that improve and extend the lives of cancer patients we serve, particularly in areas with unmet medical needs.”

Bayer is a multinational life sciences company with roots in China spanning over 140 years. Committed to becoming the partner of choice for China’s innovation ecosystem, Bayer deeply integrates into this landscape and actively collaborates with local innovation partners. This includes strengthening strategic partnerships with prestigious domestic academic institutions such as Tsinghua University and Peking University to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge scientific achievements into new drug development. Furthermore, through the establishment of the Bayer Co.Lab co-creation platform in China, the company leverages its global innovation and collaboration network, along with its extensive experience and expertise in the pharmaceutical industry, to empower the rapid growth of Chinese biotech startups.