Pfizer and Innovent Biologics will partner to research and develop 12 early-stage and de novo antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) designed to treat various cancers, the companies said today, through a collaboration that could generate up to $10.5 billion for the Chinese biotech. The companies said they have signed a strategic global licensing and collaboration agreement that includes licensing, co-development, and co-commercialization deals for both the ADCs, which would be created with payloads that differentiate them from other conjugates, as well as multi-specific antibodies, to be developed with unique designs and differentiated immune-engaging features. Pfizer and Innovent plan to work across a portfolio of 12 programs—eight early-stage programs originating with Innovent, and four Pfizer discovery programs. The companies said they will co-develop and share costs for selected programs as they advance them through clinical development. The collaboration is intended to marry Pfizer’s global scientific, clinical development, regulatory, and commercial scale capabilities with Innovent’s scientific discovery and clinical capabilities in oncology. “By combining Innovent’s discovery and early clinical development with Pfizer’s global research and development and commercialization capabilities, we have an opportunity not only to strengthen our pipeline, but to accelerate the delivery of breakthroughs that can redefine standards of care and make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives,” Jeff Legos, Pfizer’s chief oncology officer, said in a statement. Racing the ‘patent cliff’ Like other biopharma giants, Pfizer is racing the proverbial “patent cliff” by building a pipeline of new treatments capable of recouping the billions that it stands to lose in coming years as…
