Singapore-based Specialised Therapeutics Asia Pte Ltd (ST) has been appointed to handle the commercialization of the programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, Anniko (penpulimab), in Australia, Singapore, and South-East Asia. The drug is developed by the joint venture (JV) CTTQ-Akeso (Shanghai) Biomed Tech Co., Ltd, a partnership between Akeso Inc. (HKG: 9926) and Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.
Partnership and Deal Terms
Akeso Inc., a China-based firm, partnered with Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd to establish a 50-50 JV focused on the commercialization of penpulimab in late-2021. Under the agreement with ST, the company will oversee all marketing, regulatory, and distribution activities for the PD-1 inhibitor in the specified territory. The total deal value is USD 73 million, with the JV set to receive a 15% royalty on future net sales. Akeso retains all rights to product manufacture and supply.
Approvals and Indications for Penpulimab
Penpulimab received its initial approval in China in 2021 for use as a third-line treatment for classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cHL) and as a first-line treatment for squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sq-NSCLC) in combination with chemotherapy.
Interest in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) Treatment
Specialised Therapeutics has expressed interest in the development of penpulimab as a treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The molecule has received orphan drug, fast-track, and breakthrough therapy designations from the US FDA, where an approval review is currently underway. ST’s CEO, Carlo Montagner, highlighted the high disease burden of NPC across South-East Asia, with approximately 37,000 new diagnoses each year, emphasizing the potential impact of penpulimab in this region.-Fineline Info & Tech
