Zymeworks Inc. (Nasdaq: ZYME) has achieved a significant milestone with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granting accelerated approval to Ziihera (zanidatamab) for the treatment of HER2-positive biliary tract cancer (BTC) in patients who have previously undergone treatment and have not responded well. This approval marks a crucial advancement in addressing the unmet needs of patients with this aggressive cancer.
The accelerated approval of Ziihera triggers a $25 million milestone payment to Zymeworks from Jazz Pharmaceuticals, under their licensing and commercialization agreement. The agreement also makes Zymeworks eligible for up to $500 million in regulatory milestones, $862.5 million in commercial milestone payments, and royalties ranging from 10 to 20 percent on sales.
Clinical Evidence and Efficacy
The FDA's decision was supported by data from a study published in The Lancet, which demonstrated that zanidatamab provided meaningful clinical benefit with a manageable safety profile in patients with treatment-refractory, HER2-positive biliary tract cancer. Biliary tract cancer is a rare and aggressive group of cancers that occur in the bile ducts and gallbladder. Patients who have disease progression on or after first-line chemotherapy have limited treatment options, and the prognosis is poor.
Zymeworks' Perspective
"This approval represents the first FDA-approved therapy in Zymeworks’ pipeline and validates the company’s novel Azymetric bispecific platform technology and internal research and development capabilities for novel multifunctional medicines," Zymeworks stated in a news release. Paul Moore, Zymeworks’ chief science officer, added, "The FDA’s accelerated approval of Ziihera marks the culmination of more than a decade of research and development at Zymeworks, highlighting our deep scientific expertise in multifunctional biotherapeutics and unwavering commitment to innovation in drug development."
Zanidatamab's Development and Future Prospects
Ziihera is one variation of the bispecific antibody zanidatamab that Zymeworks developed for treating various types of cancer. In 2022, Zymeworks entered a license and collaboration agreement with Jazz Pharmaceuticals Ireland Ltd for the exclusive development and commercialization rights to Zanidatamab in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and other countries. Zanidatamab is also being evaluated in other clinical trials for different cancer types.
