Zai Lab Announces Strategic Partnership with MediLink Therapeutics to Develop a Novel LRRC15 Antibody-Drug Conjugate
Zai Lab (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) has announced a strategic collaboration and worldwide license agreement with MediLink Therapeutics to develop ZL-6201, a novel LRRC15 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). The partnership will utilize MediLink's TMALIN庐 ADC platform combined with an antibody discovered by Zai Lab.
The collaboration expands Zai Lab's global oncology pipeline with a potential first-in-class ADC targeting multiple solid tumors. ZL-6201 has shown promising preclinical data, with an Investigational New Drug (IND) filing expected in 2025. This partnership builds upon ongoing clinical trials for ZL-1310 and reinforces Zai Lab's commitment to developing ADC-based cancer therapies.
Zai Lab (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) ha annunciato una collaborazione strategica e un accordo di licenza mondiale con MediLink Therapeutics per sviluppare ZL-6201, un nuovo coniugato di anticorpo-farmaco (ADC) contro LRRC15. Questa partnership utilizzer脿 la piattaforma ADC TMALIN庐 di MediLink combinata con un anticorpo scoperto da Zai Lab.
La collaborazione amplia il portafoglio globale di oncologia di Zai Lab con un potenziale ADC di prima classe mirato a diversi tumori solidi. ZL-6201 ha mostrato dati preclinici promettenti, con un deposito di Nuovo Farmaco in Sperimentazione (IND) previsto per il 2025. Questa partnership si basa su trial clinici in corso per ZL-1310 e rafforza l'impegno di Zai Lab nello sviluppo di terapie oncologiche basate su ADC.
Zai Lab (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) ha anunciado una colaboraci贸n estrat茅gica y un acuerdo de licencia mundial con MediLink Therapeutics para desarrollar ZL-6201, un nuevo conjugado de anticuerpo-f谩rmaco (ADC) dirigido a LRRC15. La asociaci贸n utilizar谩 la plataforma de ADC TMALIN庐 de MediLink combinada con un anticuerpo descubierto por Zai Lab.
La colaboraci贸n ampl铆a la cartera global de oncolog铆a de Zai Lab con un posible ADC de primera clase que apunta a m煤ltiples tumores s贸lidos. ZL-6201 ha mostrado datos precl铆nicos prometedores, con una solicitud de Nuevo F谩rmaco en Investigaci贸n (IND) prevista para 2025. Esta alianza se basa en ensayos cl铆nicos en curso para ZL-1310 y refuerza el compromiso de Zai Lab en el desarrollo de terapias contra el c谩ncer basadas en ADC.
鞛愳澊霝� (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688)鞚赌 氅旊敂毵來伂 韰岆澕頁嫳鞀�鞕� LRRC15毳� 瓴儱頃� 靸堧鞖� 頃泊-鞎诫 鞝戫暕觳�(ADC)鞚� ZL-6201鞚� 臧滊皽頃橁赴 鞙勴暅 鞝勲灥鞝� 順戨牓 氚� 鞝� 靹戈硠 霛检澊靹检姢 瓿勳暯鞚� 氚滍憸頄堨姷雼堧嫟. 鞚� 韺岉姼雱堨嫮鞚赌 氅旊敂毵來伂鞚� TMALIN庐 ADC 頂岆灚韽缄臣 鞛愳澊霝╈澊 氚滉铂頃� 頃泊毳� 瓴绊暕頃橃棳 靷毄頃� 瓴冹瀰雼堧嫟.
鞚措矆 順戨牓鞚赌 鞛愳澊霝╈潣 旮�搿滊矊 膦呾枒頃� 韽姼韽措Μ鞓るゼ 頇曤寑頃橂┌, 鞐煬 瓿犿槙 膦呾枒鞚� 韮�瓴熿溂搿� 頃橂姅 斓滌磮鞚� ADC臧� 霅� 鞛犾灛霠レ潉 歆�雼堦碃 鞛堨姷雼堧嫟. ZL-6201鞚赌 鞙犽頃� 鞝勳瀯靸� 雿办澊韯半ゼ 氤挫棳欤检棃鞙茧┌, 2025雲勳棎電� 鞛勳儊 鞁滍棙 鞁犾暯(IND) 鞁犾箔鞚� 鞓堨儊霅╇媹雼�. 鞚� 韺岉姼雱堨嫮鞚赌 ZL-1310鞐� 雽�頃� 歆勴枆 欷戩澑 鞛勳儊 鞁滍棙鞚� 旮半皹鞙茧 頃橂┌, ADC 旮半皹 鞎� 旃橂 臧滊皽鞐� 雽�頃� 鞛愳澊霝╈潣 項岇嫚鞚� 臧曧檾頃╇媹雼�.
Zai Lab (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) a annonc茅 une collaboration strat茅gique et un accord de licence mondial avec MediLink Therapeutics pour d茅velopper ZL-6201, un nouvel anticorps-conjugu茅 m茅dicament (ADC) ciblant LRRC15. Ce partenariat utilisera la plateforme d'ADC TMALIN庐 de MediLink combin茅e 脿 un anticorps d茅couvert par Zai Lab.
Cette collaboration 茅largit le portefeuille mondial d'oncologie de Zai Lab avec un ADC potentiel de classe premi猫re ciblant plusieurs tumeurs solides. ZL-6201 a montr茅 des donn茅es pr茅cliniques prometteuses, avec un d茅p么t d'Investigational New Drug (IND) pr茅vu pour 2025. Ce partenariat s'appuie sur des essais cliniques en cours pour ZL-1310 et renforce l'engagement de Zai Lab 脿 d茅velopper des th茅rapies contre le cancer bas茅es sur les ADC.
Zai Lab (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) hat eine strategische Zusammenarbeit und eine weltweite Lizenzvereinbarung mit MediLink Therapeutics bekannt gegeben, um ZL-6201, ein neuartiges LRRC15-Antik枚rper-Wirkstoff-Konjugat (ADC), zu entwickeln. Die Partnerschaft wird die ADC-Plattform TMALIN庐 von MediLink in Kombination mit einem von Zai Lab entdeckten Antik枚rper nutzen.
Die Zusammenarbeit erweitert die globale Onkologie-Pipeline von Zai Lab mit einem potenziellen ADC der Klasse 鈥瀎irst-in-class鈥�, der auf mehrere solide Tumoren abzielt. ZL-6201 hat vielversprechende pr盲klinische Daten gezeigt, und die Einreichung eines Antrags auf einen Neuen Wirkstoff (IND) wird f眉r 2025 erwartet. Diese Partnerschaft baut auf laufenden klinischen Studien f眉r ZL-1310 auf und st盲rkt das Engagement von Zai Lab f眉r die Entwicklung von ADC-basierten Krebstherapien.
- Expansion of global oncology pipeline with potential first-in-class ADC
- Worldwide license agreement secured for novel LRRC15 ADC technology
- Promising preclinical data for ZL-6201
- IND filing timeline established for 2025
- None.
Insights
This strategic partnership marks a significant expansion in Zai Lab's ADC development capabilities. The collaboration leverages MediLink's TMALIN庐 platform technology with Zai Lab's antibody discovery expertise to develop ZL-6201, targeting LRRC15 - a promising target in solid tumors. LRRC15 (Leucine Rich Repeat Containing 15) is particularly interesting as it's expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts and certain tumor cells, making it a compelling dual-targeting approach.
The deal structure appears to be a worldwide license agreement, giving Zai Lab global commercialization rights - a substantial value driver compared to regional deals. The IND filing timeline in 2025 suggests the program is in late preclinical development, with encouraging data supporting its progression. For context, the ADC market is experiencing rapid growth, with successful launches like Enhertu and Padcev demonstrating the commercial potential of next-generation ADCs.
This builds on Zai Lab's existing ADC program ZL-1310, creating a complementary pipeline in this high-value therapeutic class. The partnership demonstrates Zai Lab's strategic focus on building a globally competitive oncology portfolio through both internal development and strategic licensing.
From a financial perspective, this deal strengthens Zai Lab's position in the lucrative ADC market, which is projected to reach
For a company with a market cap of
Having multiple ADC programs reduces development risk through pipeline diversification while potentially creating platform value. Early-stage biotech investors typically assign higher valuations to companies with platform technologies and global rights, particularly in hot areas like ADCs.
Through this collaboration, Zai Lab further expands its global oncology pipeline with another potential first-in-class ADC targeting multiple solid tumors and addressing significant unmet medical needs. ZL-6201 has demonstrated encouraging preclinical data with an IND expected to be filed in 2025.
鈥淢ediLink has built a differentiated proprietary ADC technology platform, and we are excited to broaden our global partnership,鈥� said Rafael G. Amado, M.D., President, Head of Global Research and Development at Zai Lab. 鈥淏uilding on the promising findings from our ongoing clinical trials for ZL-1310, this new collaboration demonstrates our continued focus on developing cancer therapies with ADC drugs and enriches our global oncology pipeline to address unmet medical needs. We look forward to working with MediLink to advance this compound into the clinic soon.鈥�
鈥淶ai Lab鈥檚 strong commitment to innovation and proven track record of global development impressed us through our existing collaboration,鈥� said Tony Xue, PhD, CEO at MediLink. 鈥淭his new partnership further validates our technology and enhances our strategic partnership. We believe our collaboration with Zai Lab will bring this innovative therapy to patients worldwide.鈥�
About LRRC15
Leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 15 (LRRC15) is a type I transmembrane protein involved in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. It is overexpressed in various mesenchymal tumors such as sarcoma, glioblastoma and melanoma, where it promotes tumor metastasis. Additionally, LRRC15 is upregulated in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) across various cancer types, contributing to immune-excluded and immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). This makes LRRC15 an appealing target for cancer therapy.
About Zai Lab in ADC
Zai Lab is building a portfolio of potential first- and/or best-in-class ADCs around the world. In addition to this next-generation ADC, the company has one near to commercial stage asset TIVDAK (tisotumab vedotin) and two next-generation ADC programs, ZL-1310 and ZL-6301, with exclusive worldwide rights. ZL-1310, a potential first-in-class ADC, is an investigational DLL3-targeted ADC being developed in a Phase 1 trial. Zai Lab presented encouraging efficacy and safety results for ZL-1310 from the ongoing Phase 1 study in patients with recurrent extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) at the 2024 EORTC-NCI-AACR (ENA) Annual Symposium.
About Zai Lab
Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) is an innovative, research-based, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company based in
For additional information about Zai Lab, including our products, business activities and partnerships, research, and other events or developments, please visit or follow us at .
Zai Lab Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to our future expectations, plans, and prospects, for Zai Lab, including, without limitation, statements relating to our prospects and plans for developing and commercializing next generation ADCs, the potential benefit of ADCs, and the potential treatment of solid tumors. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release are forward-looking statements, and can be identified by words such as 鈥渁im,鈥� 鈥渁nticipate,鈥� 鈥渂elieve,鈥� 鈥渃ould,鈥� 鈥渆stimate,鈥� 鈥渆xpect,鈥� 鈥渇orecast,鈥� 鈥済oal,鈥� 鈥渋ntend,鈥� 鈥渕ay,鈥� 鈥減lan,鈥� 鈥減ossible,鈥� 鈥減otential,鈥� 鈥渨ill,鈥� 鈥渨ould,鈥� and other similar expressions. Such statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees or assurances of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on our expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. We may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including but not limited to (1) our ability to successfully commercialize and generate revenue from our approved products, (2) our ability to obtain funding for our operations and business initiatives, (3) the results of our clinical and pre-clinical development of our product candidates, (4) the content and timing of decisions made by the relevant regulatory authorities regarding regulatory approvals of our product candidates, (5) risks related to doing business in
Our SEC filings can be found on our website at and on the SEC鈥檚 website at .
Trademarks
All trademarks and registered trademarks referenced within are property of their respective owners.
View source version on businesswire.com:
For more information, please contact:
Investor Relations:
Christine Chiou / Lina Zhang
+1 (917) 886-6929 / +86 136 8257 6943
christine.chiou1@zailaboratory.com / lina.zhang@zailaboratory.com
Media:
Shaun Maccoun / Xiaoyu Chen
+1 857 270 8854 / +86 185 0015 5011
shaun.maccoun@zailaboratory.com / xiaoyu.chen@zailaboratory.com
Source: Zai Lab Limited
FAQ
What is the purpose of Zai Lab's partnership with MediLink for ZL-6201?
When is ZLAB expecting to file the IND for ZL-6201?
What types of cancers will ZLAB's ZL-6201 target?
What is the current development stage of ZLAB's ZL-6201?
How does the MediLink partnership expand ZLAB's oncology pipeline?
