Formosa Pharmaceuticals announced on the 6th that it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Almac Discovery, a research-driven drug development company based in Northern Ireland, to obtain global commercialization rights for its pioneering bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) ALM-401 in the treatment of solid tumors with dual expression of EGFR and ROR1.
Formosa Pharmaceuticals stated that Almac Discovery focuses on protein stability regulation and the development of next-generation antibody-drug conjugates. Its development pipeline spans preclinical and clinical stages, covering both small molecule and large molecule drugs, and collaborates with biotech and pharmaceutical companies worldwide to drive product progress. The licensing agreement includes an upfront payment and milestone development payments, as well as additional revenue terms upon regulatory approval and post-market sales.
The core of ALM-401 is an innovative bispecific antibody designed with a single-chain structure, allowing for a smaller molecular weight. This key feature is expected to enhance binding ability to epitopes, improve tumor penetration, and potentially simplify the manufacturing process. ALM-401 has demonstrated the ability to significantly and stably reduce tumors and induce a notable "bystander effect" in various solid tumor models, such as non-small cell lung cancer, which could further enhance overall therapeutic efficacy.
ROR1 (Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptor 1) is a receptor protein expressed during fetal development but is almost absent in normal adult tissues. However, it is abnormally expressed in various cancers, including lung cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia. Due to its low background expression and tumor specificity, ROR1 is considered a highly promising target for cancer therapy. Targeting ROR1 with antibodies or antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) can selectively kill tumor cells, reducing damage to normal cells and improving safety and efficacy of the treatment.
Formosa Pharmaceuticals’ CEO, Erick Co, stated, "We are excited to have the opportunity to include ALM-401 in our development pipeline. This innovative next-generation ADC product aligns with our corporate strategy and resource layout and has the potential to provide differentiated new therapies for cancer patients worldwide. We look forward to closely collaborating with Almac Group to advance this project through clinical trials, commercialization, and all future stages of development."
Stephen Barr, President and Managing Director of Almac Discovery, stated, "We are thrilled to have met the stringent selection criteria for next-generation ADC candidates set by Formosa Pharmaceuticals. This partnership agreement will help facilitate the smooth progression of the molecule into clinical evaluation under Formosa Pharmaceuticals' leadership."
Resource: 台新藥與Almac Discovery簽協議 引進雙特異性抗體藥
