Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS; NYSE: BMY) has reached an agreement with China-based Ablaze Pharmaceuticals to regain exclusive development and commercialization rights for ABZ-706 in Greater China, which includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. ABZ-706 is a targeted therapy for liver cancer that focuses on the GPC3 biomarker.
Background on the ABZ-706 Agreement and RayzeBio Acquisition
ABZ-706 was originally licensed from US firm RayzeBio, which was later acquired by BMS for a substantial USD 4.1 billion in December 2023. The licensing deal, which took place in March 2023, has now been canceled following the new accord between BMS and Ablaze Pharmaceuticals.
Significance of GPC3 and ABZ-706’s Potential Impact
GPC3 is a clinically relevant biomarker that is expressed exclusively in hepatocellular carcinoma and not in normal or other pathological liver tissues, making it an ideal target for diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy. ABZ-706 has shown promising results in preclinical models, demonstrating effective selective binding to GPC3, rapid cellular internalization, and sustained tumor-specific uptake, along with significant anti-tumor efficacy.-Fineline Info & Tech
