GSK has entered into an agreement with French biotechnology company Syndivia to acquire exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize a preclinical antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The deal, announced Monday, includes upfront payments and potential milestone payments totaling up to £268 million, plus tiered royalties on future global sales.
Addressing Critical Unmet Medical Need
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer represents a significant health burden, with approximately 1.4 million men diagnosed with prostate cancer worldwide each year. According to GSK, approximately 10-20% of these patients develop advanced disease with castration resistance and metastases within five years. For patients whose cancer has progressed to mCRPC, treatment options remain severely limited.
The prognosis for mCRPC patients is particularly challenging, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 30% and a median survival of approximately two years. Current standard of care options may be difficult to access in community practice settings and are often poorly tolerated with modest efficacy outcomes.
Novel ADC Technology Shows Promise
The acquired ADC utilizes Syndivia's proprietary GeminiMab conjugation technology and has demonstrated what GSK describes as "best-in-class potential" in preclinical studies. The drug showed enhanced anti-tumor activity and an encouraging safety profile, effectively shrinking tumors without causing a proportional increase in significant side effects, even at higher doses.
This targeted approach could address a current gap in available therapies by delivering treatment directly to the tumor while providing a more accessible treatment option in community practice settings for mCRPC patients.
Strategic Expansion of GSK's Oncology Portfolio
The acquisition aligns with GSK's broader oncology strategy to expand beyond its current focus on blood and women's cancers into solid tumors, including lung, gastrointestinal, and other cancers. The company is developing an innovative pipeline spanning ADCs with distinct antigens and payloads, next-generation small molecules, and T-cell engagers.
"Prostate cancer represents a significant health burden and an emerging area of growth for GSK, where targeted therapies are urgently needed in metastatic castration-resistant settings," said Hesham Abdullah, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Oncology R&D at GSK. "The addition of this ADC builds on GSK's growing portfolio and strengths in tumor-targeted technologies, including GSK'227, our B7-H3-targeting ADC."
The deal complements GSK's existing prostate cancer pipeline, which includes GSK'227, a B7H3-targeted ADC, and other priority programs such as antibody-drug conjugates targeting B7-H4 and IDRX-42, a highly selective KIT tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
Partnership Details and Future Development
Under the agreement terms, GSK will assume full responsibility for the development, manufacturing, and worldwide commercialization of the ADC program. Syndivia, a Strasbourg-based private biotechnology company focused on next-generation ADCs, will receive the upfront payment plus success-based development and commercial milestone payments.
"We are proud that GSK will advance this program on a global scale," said Sasha Koniev, Chief Executive Officer of Syndivia. "This agreement underscores the value of our GeminiMab ADC platform and the opportunity to bring a promising new therapy to patients with pressing unmet medical needs."
GSK shares rose 1.2% to 1,639.50 pence following the announcement on Monday morning in London, reflecting investor confidence in the strategic acquisition's potential to address a significant market opportunity in oncology.
