China-based biopharmaceutical company BeiGene Ltd (NASDAQ: BGNE; HKG: 6160; SHA: 688235) has announced a licensing agreement with Ensem Therapeutics Inc., a biopharma company incubated by CBC Group and operating in Massachusetts, US, and Shanghai, China. According to the agreement, BeiGene will obtain an exclusive global license to Ensem’s oral cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) inhibitor, with upfront and milestone payments totaling up to USD 1.33 billion, plus future sales royalties.
Ensem’s CDK2 Inhibitor and Its Potential in Cancer Treatment
Ensem’s CDK2 inhibitor is currently at the IND filing stage. CDK2, also known as cell division protein kinase 2, belongs to the cyclin-dependent kinase family. Studies have demonstrated that the combination of CDK2 with CDK4/6 inhibitors can overcome resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment alone. BeiGene plans to combine Ensem’s CDK2 inhibitor with its own Phase I stage CDK4 inhibitor to enhance treatment options for breast cancer and other solid tumor types.- Flcube.com
