LegoChem Biosciences has signed a co-development and technology transfer agreement with the U.K. Iksuda Therapeutics for LCB14, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) undergoing studies in China.

LegoChem Biosciences has signed with Iksuda Therapeutics of the United Kingdom to transfer technology and co-develop LCB14, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).
LegoChem Biosciences has signed with Iksuda Therapeutics of the United Kingdom to transfer technology and co-develop LCB14, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).

Under the accord, Iksuda gained exclusive rights for the global development and commercialization of LCB14 outside China and Korea.

LegoChem Biosciences will receive up to $1 billion according to the development, licensing, commercialization, and separate royalty and short-term milestone payments, including $50 million in upfront fees.

The company plans to pay a portion of the initial cost of clinical trials and carry out the studies in the U.S. jointly with Iksuda based on the successful outcomes of trials going on in China.

Iksuda possesses one of the world's top ADC development capabilities, having Dr. Robert Lutz as its chief science executive. He previously led the preclinical and early clinical trials of Kadcyla, a global blockbuster ADC drug.

"The recent contract reflects Iksuda's commitment to providing new therapeutics to patients who have cancer through differentiated ADC development and the company's global top-level development expertise," Iksuda CEO David Simpson said. "We will continue clinical development of valuable therapeutics in the future by focusing on carcinomas with limited options and building a competitive pipeline with partner companies and our original toxin and ADC platforms."

LegoChem Biosciences CDO Cho Young-lag also said, "Through the joint clinical trial planned in the U.S., we will do our best to strengthen our clinical development capabilities and rapidly develop follow-up ADCs by actively adopting the top-tier development capabilities and know-how."

Cho stressed that Iksuda is LogoChem’s best partner for the fastest development of HER2-ADC.

The agreement increased the number of LegoChem Biosciences’ technology transfer and options contracts to 11, including five agreed in 2021, with an estimated cumulative total of almost 5 trillion won ($4.22 billion).

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