Bristol-Myers Squibb and Japan-based Eisai Co. have into entered into an exclusive global strategic collaboration agreement worth up to $3.10 billion to jointly develop and market an experimental cancer drug.
MORAb-202, Eisai’s first antibody drug conjugate (ADC), combines Eisai’s in house developed anti-folate receptor alpha (FRα) antibody, and the drugmaker's anticancer agent eribulin, using an enzyme cleavable linker. Eisai is currently investigating MORAb-202 in FRα-positive solid tumors (inclusive of endometrial, ovarian, lung and breast cancers) in two studies: a phase 1 clinical study in Japan and a phase 1/2 clinical study in the U.S.
Per the terms of the deal, BMS will pay $650 million upfront to Eisai, which will also be eligible for up to $2.45 billion in milestone payments. The pair plans to jointly develop and market MORAb-202 in Asia, Europe, the U.S. and Canada
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