Delaware Business Now: Inctyte, InnoCare partner on development of cancer treatment drug in Greater China

Incyte and a subsidiary of InnoCare entered into a collaboration and license agreement to develop and commercialize a cancer treatment drug in Greater China.

Incyte is based near Wilmington. InnoCare is a Chinese company.

Under the terms of the agreement, InnoCare will pay Incyte $35 million upfront, and Incyte is eligible to receive up to an additional $82.5 million in potential development, regulatory and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties.

InnoCare will receive the rights to develop and exclusively commercialize tafasitamab in hematology and oncology in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

“The collaboration with InnoCare allows us to accelerate the expansion of our partnered portfolio in China,” said Hervé Hoppenot, CEO of  Incyte. “We believe InnoCare will be an excellent partner to accelerate the development of tafasitamab, and if approved, help bring this innovative therapy to patients and healthcare providers in Greater China.”

Monjuvi (tafasitamab-cxix) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for some treatments of adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma (cancer in the lymph nodes).

The indication was okayed under accelerated approval based on the overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial or trials.

In January 2020, MorphoSys, a German pharmaceutical company, and Incyte entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement to develop and commercialize tafasitamab globally. Monjuvi is being commercialized by Incyte and MorphoSys in the United States. Incyte has exclusive commercialization rights outside the United States.

In June 2021, the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued a positive opinion. The CHMP opinion is currently being reviewed by the European Commission, which has the authority to grant marketing authorization for medicinal products in the European Union.

Tafasitamab is being clinically investigated as a therapeutic option in B-cell malignancies in a number of ongoing combination trials.