Legend Biotech Corporation (NASDAQ: LEGN), a China-based biotech firm, and its US partner Janssen Pharmaceutical have entered into a significant technology transfer, manufacturing, and clinical supply service agreement with Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis (NYSE: NVS). The agreement pertains to the co-developed CAR-T cell therapy, Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel), and is set to span three years.
Details of the Agreement
Under this agreement, Novartis will take on the manufacturing process for Carvykti, a BCMA-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. This collaboration aims to enhance the manufacturing capabilities of both Legend and Janssen for CAR-T therapies, ensuring a more robust supply chain and potentially increasing the accessibility of this innovative treatment.
Carvykti’s Market Approvals and Sales Performance
Carvykti achieved its first major market approvals in 2022, beginning with the US in March and followed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in May. The therapy is indicated for heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). As the drug awaits its first regulatory decision in China, it has already demonstrated strong sales, generating USD 55 million in the last quarter of 2022, according to Legend’s financial report.
Conclusion
The partnership between Legend Biotech, Janssen Pharmaceutical, and Novartis is a strategic move that underscores the global commitment to advancing CAR-T cell therapies. With Novartis’s manufacturing expertise, the agreement is poised to bolster the production and distribution of Carvykti, offering hope to patients with multiple myeloma worldwide.
