리가켐바이오与NextCure签署转换承继协议，取得B7-H4 ADC候选药LNCB74独家开发权

LigaChem Bio has secured sole rights to develop an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) drug candidate it had been co-developing, after its development partner shifted its business direction following a merger. LigaChem Bio will now independently decide future development and commercialization strategies, and will pay milestones and royalties to the partner based on commercialization results.
LigaChem Bio said on the 7th that it had signed a conversion and succession agreement with its co-development partner NextCure for "LNCB74," a B7-H4-targeting ADC drug candidate. Under the agreement, the company secured sole decision-making authority over the development, manufacturing and commercialization of LNCB74, an exclusive license to NextCure's technology, and the right to license the technology to third parties.
The two companies signed a joint research and development agreement for LNCB74 in November 2022 and had co-developed the drug candidate by sharing development costs and commercialization profits. The contract change came after NextCure signed a merger agreement with Avir Therapeutics, an autoimmune disease treatment developer, and scaled back its cancer drug business.
LNCB74 is a cancer treatment that combines NextCure's B7-H4 protein-targeting antibody with a linker and drug (payload) based on LigaChem Bio's next-generation ADC platform. It is being developed with gynecological cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer, as its primary indications. It is currently in a Phase 1 trial in the United States targeting patients with advanced solid tumors.
"We are now able to take the lead in deciding the development and commercialization strategy for LNCB74," said Park Se-jin, CEO of LigaChem Bio. "Based on our sole rights, we will pursue the optimal commercialization plan, including global licensing."