Jacobio Pharma has granted AstraZeneca exclusive global development and commercialization rights to its experimental pan-KRAS inhibitor JAB-23E73 in a licensing agreement worth up to $2.015 billion.
The deal, disclosed on December 21, includes a $100 million upfront payment to Jacobio Pharma, a Hong Kong-listed biotech. Additionally, Jacobio is eligible to receive up to $1.915 billion in development and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on net sales outside China.
Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will be responsible for managing all clinical development, regulatory submissions, and commercialization of JAB-23E73 outside of China. Meanwhile, the two companies will collaborate on the joint development and commercialization of the drug within China.
JAB-23E73 is designed to target multiple KRAS mutation subtypes, which are present in approximately 23% of all cancer patients. KRAS is recognized as the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancers and is associated with driving tumors in pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers. Currently, the drug candidate is in Phase I trials in both China and the United States and has shown early signs of anti-tumor activity.
“KRAS is one of the most important oncogenes in cancer, with KRAS-mutated tumors driving profound unmet need for patients with pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers,” said Matt Hellmann, Senior Vice President, Early Oncology and Precision Medicine, Oncology R&D at AstraZeneca. “By advancing KRAS inhibitors like JAB-23E73, and in combination with our diverse oncology portfolio, we aim to accelerate the development of new treatment regimens that have the potential to transform outcomes for patients.”
This licensing agreement represents AstraZeneca’s first transaction with a multinational corporation involving a global pan-KRAS inhibitor. Previously, in 2023, AstraZeneca had licensed a KRAS G12D inhibitor from China’s Usynova for an upfront payment of $24 million; however, that drug targets a narrower range of mutations.
JAB-23E73 was developed by Jacobio using its proprietary induced allosteric drug discovery platform. The inhibitor is designed to target both the active and inactive states of KRAS with strong selectivity, while sparing HRAS and NRAS.
