Xencor Inc. (NASDAQ: XNCR), a U.S.-based biotechnology company, has announced that Johnson & Johnson (J&J, NYSE: JNJ)’s Janssen Biotech Inc. has opted not to proceed with the development of the bispecific T-cell engager plamotamab. As a result, Xencor regains exclusive global rights to the molecule, a CD20 x CD3 bispecific T-cell engager that was in Phase I clinical trials for hematological malignancies.
Janssen had acquired development and commercial rights to plamotamab from Xencor in a partnership agreement in 2021, with Xencor having completed enrollment in a Phase I study by late 2023. This agreement followed an initial 2020 partnership aimed at identifying CD28-targeted bispecific antibodies (BsAbs). Under the first deal, J&J/Janssen continue to develop two molecules, JNJ-9401 (PSMA x CD28) and JNJ-1493 (CD20 x CD28), both of which entered clinical development in the fourth quarter of 2023 for prostate cancer and B-cell malignancies.- Flcube.com
