Jacobio and AstraZeneca ink pan-KRAS inhibitor deal worth over $1.9 bn

Jacobio Pharmaceuticals Group, through its subsidiary Beijing Jacobio, has entered a licence and collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca AB for the development and commercialization of the pan-KRAS inhibitor JAB-23E73. Under the agreement, Beijing Jacobio will receive an upfront payment of $100 million from AstraZeneca.

The deal also includes eligibility for additional milestone payments, potentially totaling up to $1,915 million upon the achievement of development, regulatory, and commercial milestones. Beijing Jacobio is also set to receive tiered royalties based on the net sales of the licensed products. AstraZeneca will hold exclusive worldwide rights to research, develop, register, manufacture, and commercialize JAB-23E73, excluding the People's Republic of China (PRC), where a joint development and co-commercialization collaboration will be established.

JAB-23E73 is a highly potent, orally bioavailable pan-KRAS (ON/OFF) inhibitor currently undergoing Phase I clinical trials in China and the United States for advanced solid tumors with KRAS gene alterations. Future development strategies include expansion into KRAS-mutant solid tumor indications such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.