Genmab A/S (NASDAQ: GMAB), a Danish biotechnology company, has announced that its German partner BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) has opted to discontinue their collaboration on the development of the bispecific antibody (BsAb) acasunlimab. Acasunlimab, which targets the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and 4-1BB pathways, was under joint development with both companies having initiated three clinical trials, including a recent Phase II study in non-small cell lung cancer patients who had received prior treatments. BioNTech’s decision to withdraw from the partnership is attributed to strategic portfolio considerations and not due to concerns over recent clinical data.
With BioNTech’s exit, Genmab will assume full responsibility for the development of acasunlimab and is committed to making development and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalty payments, to BioNTech.
The collaboration between Genmab and BioNTech, which began in 2015, focused on the discovery and development of antibodies. Genmab utilized its proprietary DuoBody technology platform, while BioNTech contributed its proprietary immunomodulatory antibodies. The two companies continue to collaborate on the development of GEN1053/BNT313, a CD27 antibody, with development costs shared equally between them. Their ongoing partnership was reinforced by an expansion agreement signed in 2022.- Fineline.com
