Yuhan to receive $60 million milestone from Janssen for NSCLC drug lazertinib

Yuhan Corp. said Wednesday that it expects to receive a $60 million milestone payment from Janssen Pharmaceuticals for the commercialization of Leclaza (ingredient: lazertinib), its epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted cancer therapy, which recently became the first Korean-developed anti-cancer drug to receive U.S. FDA approval.

The milestone payment is tied to the commercialization of a combination therapy involving Yuhan's lazertinib and Janssen's bispecific cancer antibody, Rybrevant (ingredient: amivantamab). 

Lazertinib is a third-generation EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment, and the combination with amivantamab is noted for its effectiveness in patients with resistance mechanisms such as EGFR mutations and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) amplification.

Yuhan said that the $60 million payment accounts for more than 2.5 percent of its 2023 consolidated sales revenue of 1.859 trillion won ($1.39 billion). The payment is expected to be received within 60 days.

Yuhan said that this achievement is an important milestone, “demonstrating the success of its ongoing global R&D strategy and innovative cancer therapy development.” The company added that it plans to further accelerate the commercialization and additional research and development of lazertinib in collaboration with Janssen.