GSK Bets $357M on French Biotech Syndivia to Secure Novel ADC Target for Prostate Cancer

Oct 27, 2025 18:55 CST Updated 18:55

GSK

Pharmaceutical R&D Manufacturer

Syndivia

Biological Engineering Company

Abstract:At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conference, which is focusing on the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) boom, British pharmaceutical giant GSK announced a major collaboration with French biotech company Syndivia. GSK will pay up to $357 million to gain global development and commercialization rights for a preclinical-stage prostate cancer ADC drug from Syndivia, aiming to address unmet needs in the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Collaboration Focuses on Unmet Clinical Needs

This ADC drug has demonstrated significant advantages in preclinical studies, effectively shrinking tumors without a proportional increase in severe side effects even at high doses. Dr. Hesham Abdullah, Global Head of Oncology R&D at GSK, stated that prostate cancer poses a heavy burden on global health, and there is an urgent need for targeted therapies for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, a key growth area where GSK is focusing its efforts.

The ADC drugs in this collaboration are developed based on Syndivia's proprietary GeminiMab conjugation technology. Sasha Koniev, CEO of Syndivia, emphasized that the partnership with GSK validates the technical value of its ADC platform, potentially offering new treatment options for patients with urgent medical needs. Notably, Syndivia has previously collaborated with Inatherys to develop a CD71-targeted ADC for acute leukemia, accumulating extensive experience in the ADC field.

GSK Boosts ADC Pipeline Layout

This collaboration is a significant step for GSK in strengthening its ADC pipeline. Currently, GSK has several ADC drugs in critical development phases, including GSK'227 targeting B7-H3 and GSK'584 targeting B7-H4. Among them, GSK'227 is in collaboration with Hengrui Medicine, with Phase III clinical trial data for small cell lung cancer expected to be released soon; GSK'584 is planned to initiate five Phase III clinical trials in the first half of 2026.

Dr. Hesham Abdullah previously revealed during the ESMO conference that GSK would successively release clinical data of its proprietary ADC drugs. This collaboration with Syndivia further enhances its oncology-targeted therapy technology portfolio.

ADCs Become New Focal Point of Competition Among Pharmaceutical Companies

Recently, frequent collaborations in the ADC field have made it a popular track in the pharmaceutical industry. At the ESMO conference held in Berlin, ADC took center stage as Roche announced a $1.4 billion licensing deal, AstraZeneca presented at the Presidential Symposium, and a wealth of clinical data was released, all highlighting the enormous potential of this technology platform.

GSK's $357 Million Bet: A Testament to Confidence in ADC Technology for Cancer Treatment

Reference Source: https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/gsk-pens-357m-pact-french-biotech-preclinical-prostate-cancer-adc