AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) secured exclusive global rights to a novel cancer-fighting antibody from RemeGen Co. on Monday, marking one of the year’s largest oncology licensing agreements as the pharmaceutical giant moves to integrate next-generation bispecifics with its expanding "ADC" platform.
Under the terms of the deal, AbbVie will pay the Chinese biotech $650 million upfront for RC148, a bispecific antibody designed to simultaneously target PD-1 and VEGF pathways.
RemeGen stands to receive as much as $4.95 billion in additional milestone payments if the drug meets certain development, regulatory, and commercial hurdles, alongside tiered double-digit royalties on sales outside of Greater China.
The partnership centers on RC148’s potential to overcome tumor resistance by both unmasking cancer cells to the immune system (PD-1) and cutting off their blood supply (VEGF).
This dual mechanism is increasingly seen as a "backbone" therapy that could enhance the effectiveness of other treatments, particularly antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
AbbVie confirmed it plans to immediately begin exploring RC148 in combination with its own internal ADC assets, including telisotuzumab adizutecan (Temab-A), which targets c-Met overexpressing tumors in lung and colorectal cancers.