Harbour BioMed (HBM), which operates out of the Netherlands, the United States, and Suzhou, China, has announced a licensing agreement with US firm Cullinan Oncology, Inc. The deal grants Cullinan exclusive rights to develop and commercialize HBM7008 in the United States (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico). This strategic partnership aims to accelerate the development and market availability of HBM7008, a promising bispecific antibody (BsAb) for cancer treatment.
Financial Terms of the Agreement
Under the terms of the agreement, Cullinan will pay Harbour USD 25 million upfront and is committed to up to USD 600 million in milestone payments, alongside 20% of sales in tiered royalties. Cullinan will also shoulder all development and commercialization expenses, while Harbour will retain all rights to the drug outside of the US. This financial structure provides significant potential upside for Harbour while leveraging Cullinan’s expertise in the US market.
Clinical Development and Rights
Cullinan also has the right to carry out clinical studies for the drug in the EU and Australia, on the condition that Harbour will retain all rights and share clinical materials. This arrangement allows for efficient and coordinated development efforts across multiple regions, ensuring that the drug’s potential is fully explored.
HBM7008: Bispecific Antibody for Cancer Treatment
HBM7008 is a bispecific antibody (BsAb) that simultaneously targets the tumor antigen B7H4 and T cell co-stimulatory molecule 4-1BB. It specifically activates T cells only when binding to B7H4, thereby exerting an anti-tumor effect with improved safety. Currently in Phase I clinical trials, HBM7008 is expected to exert better effects in PD-L1-negative patients or patients resistant to PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy drugs. This makes HBM7008 a potentially valuable addition to the cancer treatment landscape, particularly for patients who do not respond to existing therapies.-Fineline Info & Tech
