Zydus Lifesciences to acquire India, Sri Lanka rights for Agenus cancer immunotherapy BOT/BAL
Ahmedabad: Zydus Lifesciences Limited has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Agenus Inc. to acquire India and Sri Lanka commercial rights for its investigational Botensilimab (BOT) and Balstilimab (BAL), combination therapy.
Agenus Inc. is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing immune therapies that effectively combat cancer. Agenus’ lead programme comprising Botensilimab (BOT) and Balstilimab (BAL), is a nextgeneration immunotherapy platform designed to strengthen and sustain the immune system’s response against tumour cells.
Currently in advanced clinical trials, BOT/BAL have demonstrated significant clinical activity across nine cancer types in more than 1,200 patients, including both late-stage and neoadjuvant settings.
As a part of the agreement, Zydus will be responsible for clinical development and regulatory approvals of licensed products in these territories and will pay 5% royalty on net sales upon successful approval & commercialization.
“Our licensing partnership with Agenus aligns with Zydus' overarching biologics vision and our aim to advance novel solutions for high-unmet need areas," said Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Lifesciences. "Agenus' robust pipeline and research in immuno-oncology along with Zydus’ reach as the largest Indian oncology player, is a significant step forward in our collective fight against cancer. We are confident that this collaboration will bring transformative therapies to patients who need them most, in India and Sri Lanka markets.”
"Zydus with its strong clinical development and regulatory capabilities will not only expand the reach of BOT/BAL therapy within its initial indications but also drive its expansion into other high unmet need indications and earlier lines of treatment, as well as neoadjuvant setting," the release stated.
