May 9 Quick Takes: Roche taps Zion for brain-penetrating HER2 program

Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) gained global rights to small molecule HER2 inhibitor ZN-A-1041 from Zion Pharma Ltd., aiming to address brain metastases that aren’t hit by other modalities against the target. Shanghai-based Zion will receive up to $70 million in an upfront payment and near-term milestones for the brain-penetrating molecule, and is eligible for up to $610 million in additional milestones, plus tiered royalties. ZN-A-1041 is in a Phase I study with sites in the U.S. and China.

Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) said it is acquiring San Diego-based XinThera LLC for an undisclosed amount. Gilead will gain preclinical inhibitors of PARP1 and MK2 for cancer and inflammatory diseases, respectively. XinThera had raised at least $80 million, including a $50 million series B round in 2021 from OrbiMed Advisors, Foresite Capital and TTM Ventures; its chairman and co-founder was the late serial entrepreneur Stephen Kaldor...