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news.Eli Lilly has expanded its drug development collaboration with Innovent Biologics to include immune-oncology bispecific antibodies in China and globally.
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Under the expanded deal, the firms will work together to develop and commercialize up to three anti-PD-1 based bispecific antibodies for cancer treatments over the next ten years, both inside and outside of China.
Through using Innovent’ antibody sequence, Lilly will create the three preclinical anti-PD-1 based bispecific antibodies.
Lilly oncology research vice president Dr Greg Plowman said: "We believe that combination therapy in immuno-oncology has the potential to transform the way cancer is treated."
As part of the previous agreement, Lilly will exercise its rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize these potential cancer treatments outside of China.
Currently, Innoven will hold the rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize these potential cancer treatments for China, subject to a Lilly opt-in right for co-development and commercialization.
The current deal will allow Innovent to secure additional milestones worth about $1bn, if the products attain certain development, regulatory and sales milestones, both inside and outside of China.
Sales royalties and other payments will be paid on certain products, if commercialized outside China.
Innovent co-founder, president and CEO Dr Michael Yu said: "We are honored that Lilly is so quickly expanding our relationship and that Lilly is trusting Innovent to develop and manufacture their newly created bispecific antibodies for China."
In September, Eli Lilly entered into a settlement agreement to resolve patent litigation with Sanofi over its Basaglar insulin glargine product.
The he deal will allow Lilly and its German partner, Boehringer Ingelheim, to launch the product in the US in late 2016.