Simcere enters license agreement with NextCure for ADC development

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited (HKEX: 2096) announced that its subsidiary, Hainan Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical, has entered into a license agreement with NextCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTC) for the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Under the agreement, NextCure obtains global rights (excluding Greater China) to SIM0505, a novel ADC targeting CDH6 for solid tumors. Simcere Zaiming will receive payments throughout development, including an upfront payment, development milestones, and sales milestones totaling up to US$745 million, as well as tiered royalties on net sales outside of Greater China. Additionally, NextCure gains access to Simcere Zaiming's TOPOi payload for its own ADC development, with Simcere Zaiming retaining Greater China rights. NextCure expects to begin clinical testing of SIM0505 in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2025.