Bliss Bio and Eisai Enter into Strategic Clinical Collaboration with Option for Global Development of HER2 ADC BB-1701

Hangzhou, China, May 8, 2023 – BlissBio (Hangzhou) Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“BlissBio”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing differentiated antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), announced that it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Eisai Co., Ltd. (“Eisai”) for BB-1701, which includes strategic collaboration options. BB-1701 is a human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-directed ADC for the treatment of cancer, using eribulin as its cytotoxic payload.

This collaboration with Eisai marks a significant step forward in BlissBio’s corporate development plan for the global development of BB-1701, facilitating the advancement of its late-stage development. BB-1701 is currently undergoing Phase I/II clinical trials in China and the United States, with over one hundred patients across various cancer types having received treatment.

Under the agreement, BlissBio will receive an upfront payment and milestone payments, and BlissBio and Eisai will co-develop BB-1701. If Eisai exercises its option for the strategic collaboration on BB-1701, BlissBio will receive the corresponding exercise fee, as well as up to a total of $2 billion in development and commercialization milestone payments and sales royalties. Eisai will obtain the global (excluding Greater China) rights to develop and commercialize BB-1701.

“Eisai is one of Japan’s leading pharmaceutical companies, with robust global R&D capabilities in oncology. The clinical collaboration reached with Eisai holds significant importance for BlissBio, facilitating the further development of BB-1701, an oncology drug with broad market prospects,” said Dr. Wei Ziping, CEO of BlissBio. “Through this pivotal partnership, we will work jointly with Eisai to advance the development of BB-1701, bringing benefits to patients worldwide.”

About BB-1701

BB-1701 is an innovative antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) developed by BlissBio, combining an anti-HER2 antibody with eribulin. It aims to provide a safer and more effective treatment option for patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive solid tumors, holding significant market potential across multiple oncology indications. BB-1701 features a unique mechanism of action (MOA), including potent bystander killing effects and immunogenic cell death (ICD) activity, and is currently undergoing international multicenter Phase I/II clinical trials in both China and the United States.
 
About BlissBio

BlissBio Biopharmaceuticals (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. (“BlissBio”) was co-founded in 2017 by experienced overseas-returnee PhDs in the pharmaceutical industry in Qiantang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. It is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, and industrialization of innovative biological anti-tumor drugs. BlissBio possesses a proprietary intellectual property technology platform, a robust pipeline of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) products, and in-house GMP manufacturing capabilities that support the production of antibodies and ADCs for clinical development and early commercialization. BlissBio has been recognized as a National High-Tech Enterprise in China. Upholding its core corporate value of “Harnessing Collective Strength to Safeguard Public Health,” BlissBio will continue to focus on innovative medicines and address unmet clinical needs through close collaboration with domestic and international peers.

About Eisai

Eisai’s corporate philosophy is “to give first thought to patients and their families, and to the increase in the benefits they enjoy.” Based on this philosophy (also known as our human health care [hhc] concept), we aim to effectively contribute to the realization of a healthy society by alleviating anxiety about health and reducing health disparities. Leveraging our global network comprising R&D sites, manufacturing facilities, and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to create and deliver innovative products for diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus on the strategic therapeutic areas of neurology and oncology.
Furthermore, the various initiatives we have undertaken with our global partners demonstrate our continued commitment to eliminating neglected tropical diseases, which is one of the targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).