Wedoany.com Report-Dec.26, China-based Jacobio Pharma (1167.HK) has entered into a global exclusive licensing agreement with AstraZeneca for its proprietary Pan-KRAS inhibitor JAB-23E73. The announcement was made.

Under the terms of the deal, AstraZeneca will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize JAB-23E73 outside of China. Jacobio Pharma and AstraZeneca will jointly develop and commercialize the candidate within China.

Jacobio will receive an upfront payment of $100 million. The company is also eligible for additional development and commercial milestone payments of up to $1.915 billion, along with tiered royalties on net sales achieved outside of China.

AstraZeneca will take full responsibility for all clinical development, regulatory submissions, and commercialization activities for JAB-23E73 in markets beyond China.

JAB-23E73 is an innovative Pan-KRAS inhibitor developed using Jacobio's induced allosteric drug discovery platform. It is designed to target multiple KRAS mutation subtypes. KRAS represents the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancers, occurring in approximately 23% of all patients.

The candidate is currently being evaluated in Phase I trials in both China and the United States. Early signs of anti-tumor activity have been observed in these studies.

Yinxiang Wang Ph.D., Chairman and Co-CEO of Jacobio Pharma, commented: “We are delighted to partner with AstraZeneca. This collaboration marks a significant step forward as we bring our world-class programs to the global stage and maximize the value of our R&D innovation. We are committed to providing breakthrough treatments and improving survival for patients, including those with KRAS-mutated cancers, across the world.”

This partnership strengthens Jacobio's financial position, accelerates the global development of JAB-23E73, and expands the company's presence in the international oncology innovation ecosystem.

Jacobio will continue to explore the KRAS pathway in depth. The company plans to advance targeted antibody-drug conjugates (tADCs) using KRAS inhibitors as payloads, develop differentiated compounds addressing additional KRAS mutation types, and progress its next-generation immuno-oncology programs, including the STING-based induced antibody-drug conjugate (iADC) platform.

The collaboration leverages AstraZeneca's extensive expertise in oncology development and commercialization. It also highlights the potential of JAB-23E73 to address significant unmet needs in KRAS-mutated cancers, such as those in pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancer settings.

By combining Jacobio's innovative discovery capabilities with AstraZeneca's global resources, the agreement aims to advance this promising candidate more rapidly toward patients worldwide. This strategic alliance supports ongoing efforts to deliver effective therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers driven by KRAS mutations.