US-based Ambrx and China-based Zhejiang Medicine have collaborated to develop and commercialize ARX788, an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) targeting Her2-positive breast cancer.
As per the deal, both the companies will advance the product developement while ZMC will fund the ongoing development costs.
ZMC will assume the commercialisation rights to the candidate in China and Ambrx will retain commercial rights outside of China, while being eligible for sales-based royalties in the country, .
Ambrx chief executive officer Lawson Macartney said the collaboration with ZMC and WuXi enables the development of ARX788, the advanced ADC therapeutic candidate for both breast cancer and gastric cancer indications.
"This collaboration allows Ambrx to further extend our pipeline of ADCs and gain access to the China market through our partnership with ZMC," Macartney added.
"Our experience with site-specific ADC technology has shown that we have the potential to create best-in-class therapeutic candidates, and we look forward to advancing ARX788 into the clinic to understand its full potential."
WuXi PharmaTech will supply integrated services including development and manufacturing of the toxin, antibody and ADC, pre-clinical development and clinical trials for ARX788, whereas ZMC will carry out the manufacturing activities required for worldwide clinical and commercial needs.
Zhejiang Medicine chairman Chunbo Li said, "We will work with WuXi PharmaTech to accelerate the development and commercialization of ARX788 in China to bring benefits to Her2-positive cancer patients."
