May 12 Quick Takes: AZ latest pharma to gain rights to a LaNova ADC
Plus: FDA clears Astellas’ therapy for hot flashes updates from Cullgen and SFJ-Serb
In the latest in a surge of ADC deals this year, AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NASDAQ:AZN) has licensed exclusive global rights to LM-305, a preclinical antibody-drug conjugate targeting GPRC5D for multiple myeloma, from LaNova Medicines Ltd. The Shanghai company is eligible to receive upfront and near-term payments of $55 million and milestone payments of $545 million, plus royalties. It’s LaNova’s second ADC out-licensing deal with a Western company: last year it partnered an ADC targeting CLDN18.2 with Turning Point Therapeutics Inc., now part of Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY).
FDA approved Veozah fezolinetant from Astellas Pharma Inc. (Tokyo:4503) to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, commonly known as hot flashes. The NK3R antagonist is the first in its class to be approved for the indication. Astellas, which is diversifying its pipeline to reduce reliance on prostate cancer drug Xtandi enzalutamide, obtained Veozah via its 2017 acquisition of Ogeda S.A.; it is under regulatory review in the EU, Switzerland and Australia...