Evogene and Shanghai Lishan Biopharmaceuticals Announce Exclusive Global Licensing Deal for BMC128 Microbiome Cancer Therapy
Key Insights
Biomica, Evogene's subsidiary, has licensed BMC128, a first-in-class microbiome-based therapeutic, to Shanghai Lishan Biopharmaceuticals for global development and commercialization.
BMC128 is completing Phase 1 trials in renal cell carcinoma (search) and non-small cell lung cancer (search), demonstrating excellent safety profile and early efficacy signs with stable disease achieved in previously progressive patients.
Lishan Biotech will advance BMC128 into Phase 2 studies and pursue regulatory filings in China and the United States, while Biomica receives milestone payments and royalties.
Evogene Ltd. (search) and Shanghai Lishan Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (search) have announced an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement for BMC128, a first-in-class microbiome-based therapeutic designed to enhance anti-tumor immune activity (search). The deal transfers global development and commercialization rights from Biomica Ltd., Evogene's subsidiary, to the China-based biotechnology company.
BMC128 represents a novel approach to cancer treatment, consisting of a live biopharmaceutical consortium composed of four human gut bacterial strains (search) with defined functional capabilities that enhance responses to immunotherapy (search) and stimulate anti-tumor immune activity (search). The therapeutic is currently completing a Phase 1 clinical study in renal cell carcinoma (search) and non-small cell lung cancer (search).
Promising Early Clinical Results
The Phase 1 trial has demonstrated encouraging early clinical promise, with results showing an excellent safety and tolerability profile. Notably, the study has revealed early signs of efficacy, including a high proportion of patients with previously progressive disease achieving stable disease during treatment.
Dr. Weijie Chen, Chairman of Lishan Biotech, emphasized the clinical significance of these findings: "We are impressed by the effects observed with BMC128 in lung and renal cancer patients who had experienced disease progression prior to treatment, and we look forward to advancing the program through further development and ultimately toward commercialization, for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide."
Strategic Partnership and Development Plans
Under the licensing agreement, Lishan Biotech will assume full responsibility for global clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization of BMC128, which the company has designated as LS-LBP-002. Biomica will be eligible to receive development milestone payments and royalties on future commercial sales according to an agreed-upon schedule.
Lishan Biotech has outlined ambitious development plans, including advancing BMC128 into a Phase 2 clinical study and pursuing regulatory filings in both China and the United States for future commercialization.
Ofer Haviv, CEO of Evogene and Biomica, commented on the partnership: "We are pleased to partner with Lishan Biotech as BMC128 enters its next phase of development. Lishan Biotech's strong development capabilities and commitment to innovative microbiome-based therapeutics position this program for meaningful value creation in difficult-to-treat cancers."
Technological Innovation in Microbiome Therapeutics
The collaboration brings together complementary strengths from both organizations. Lishan Biotech's proprietary Swarming technology enables breakthrough solutions to the century-old challenge of gut microbial colonization through its "Golden Triangle" system comprising "Stable Strain Colonization + Microbiome Mimicry + Precise Clinical Enrollment."
Dr. Jing Bao, MD, a Director of Biomica Ltd with a PhD from the Weizmann Institute of Science, highlighted the international significance of the partnership: "This partnership brings together China's clinical development capabilities with Israel's innovation in microbiome science. We believe the success of this project will benefit patients worldwide and contribute to important breakthroughs in microbiome-based therapeutics."
Company Backgrounds
Evogene Ltd. (search) operates as a pioneering computational chemistry company, specializing in generative design of small molecules for pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. The company's core technology, ChemPass AI™, serves as a proprietary generative AI engine enabling the design of novel, highly potent small molecules optimized across multiple critical parameters.
Lishan Biotech focuses on developing microbiome-based innovative therapies for complex chronic diseases, including inflammation, oncology, and neurological disorders. The clinical-stage biotechnology company aims to address high-value unmet medical needs with first-in-class or best-in-class therapies targeting world-leading drug targets and mechanisms of action.