Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (HKG: 6990) has announced the initiation of clinical trials for SKB264 (MK-2870), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) co-developed with Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD, NYSE: MRK) for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and endometrial carcinoma (EC). This development triggers a clinical milestone payment of USD 75 million, of which Kelun-Biotech has already received a portion, with the remainder expected shortly.
SKB264 specifically targets TROP2 and is part of a licensing agreement signed between MSD and Kelun on May 22, which grants MSD rights outside Greater China. The ADC will undergo three pivotal Phase III clinical studies: as a monotherapy for previously treated advanced or metastatic NSCLC with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations or other genomic alterations, for previously treated EC, and in combination with pembrolizumab for metastatic NSCLC with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression of 50% or greater.- Flcube.com
