MediLink signs $570M ADC licensing agreement with Roche

MediLink Therapeutics announced that it has entered into a new collaboration and exclusive licensing agreement with Roche for the development and commercialization of YL201, an investigational novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) asset targeting B7H3 across numerous solid tumor types.

Under the terms of the agreement, MediLink will grant Roche an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize YL201 worldwide, excluding the mainland of China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the Macau Special Administrative Region. MediLink will receive upfront and near-term milestone payments of US$ 570 million, together with additional development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on net sales of YL201 outside of China, once approved.

This new agreement for YL201 builds on the successful collaboration initiated in January 2024 for the YL211 (c-Met ADC) program. MediLink and Roche are now deepening their collaboration through the development of YL201. Through this new agreement, the two companies will leverage their complementary strengths to accelerate YL201's path to global regulatory approvals. United by a shared commitment to scientific innovation and patient benefit, MediLink and Roche strive to bring this potentially transformative therapy option quickly to patients.      

Dr. Tongtong Xue, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman and CEO of MediLink, stated "We are thrilled to again enter into collaboration with our valued partner Roche. We are impressed by Roche's      unparalleled expertise in global clinical development for oncology assets and look forward to working jointly to expedite worldwide patient access to YL201 once approved."

"YL201 has demonstrated promising clinical data, and this collaboration with Roche marks a transformative step for its global development. This agreement provides YL201, a key asset from our innovative TMALIN^® platform, with the necessary worldwide reach and resources to potentially become a new treatment option, addressing critical unmet needs for patients with various solid tumors," said Dr. Jiaqiang Cai, Ph. D., Co-founder, co-CEO and CSO of MediLink.

Boris L. Zaïtra, Head of Corporate Business Development at Roche, commented on the agreement: "Our deepening collaboration with MediLink on YL201 reflects Roche's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge innovation from around the globe to address unmet patient needs, particularly within oncology and lung cancer as one of our strategic priorities. We are excited to combine MediLink's and Roche's expertise in ADCs with our well established global development and commercial presence to bring this promising potential therapy option to patients."