China-based Allist Pharmaceuticals has signed a strategic agreement with ArriVent BioPharma granting Allist exclusive Greater China rights to research, develop, manufacture, register, and commercialise AST12608/ARR-002, a potential first-in-class tetravalent bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting MUC16 and NaPi2b, initially in ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Preclinical data showed enhanced internalisation versus monospecific controls, superior efficacy in OVCAR-3 patient-derived xenograft models, and a wider therapeutic window in cynomolgus monkeys with only reversible haematologic changes at higher maximum tolerated doses. The asset cleared IND review in the US in May this year.

The deal extends a relationship that began in 2021 when Allist out-licenced furmonertinib ex-Greater China to ArriVent, with that molecule now in two global Phase III trials (FURVENT in EGFR exon 20 insertion, ALPACCA in EGFR PACC, the former holding Breakthrough Therapy status).