Roche Licenses Zymeworks’ ZW209 Cancer Therapy

Zymeworks Inc., a biotechnology company managing a portfolio of licensed healthcare assets while developing a diverse pipeline of novel, multifunctional biotherapeutics, has entered into a global license and collaboration agreement with Roche for the research, development and commercialization of ZW209, a T cell engager targeting DLL3.

Zymeworks will conduct the Phase 1a monotherapy trial of ZW209 in collaboration with Roche, bringing together Zymeworks’ expertise in multispecific antibody therapeutics with Roche’s global capabilities in the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of cancer medicines. Roche will fund the Phase 1a trial and be responsible for subsequent global development and commercialization of ZW209. Under the agreement, Roche will have the exclusive right to develop and commercialize ZW209 globally.

“This collaboration allows us to continue advancing ZW209 through its initial clinical development while leveraging Roche’s complementary capabilities to accelerate and expand its development across indications and treatment settings. The agreement also reflects our broader strategy of generating innovative programs through our R&D engine and partnering selected assets in ways that share development risk while preserving meaningful participation in their future success,” said Adam Schayowitz, Ph.D., MBA, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D at Zymeworks.

“ZW209 represents an innovative approach that complements our ongoing efforts to develop new treatment options for people living with lung cancer,” said Boris L. Zaïtra, Head of Corporate Business Development at Roche. “We look forward to collaborating with Zymeworks to fully explore its therapeutic potential.”

Terms of the Agreement

Under the agreement, Zymeworks is eligible to receive an upfront payment of $55 million, a $40 million payment upon initiation of the Phase 1b trial, and additional development, commercial and sales-based milestone payments of up to $718 million, and tiered high single digit to mid-teen royalties on future net sales of any approved medicines resulting from the collaboration.

The collaboration is part of Zymeworks’ broader strategic initiative to advance differentiated therapeutic candidates internally while selectively partnering programs where complementary capabilities can accelerate development, expand potential and share development risk. In June, Zymeworks acquired Theravance Biopharma in a deal that included Theravance’s Yupelri for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).