Servier, an independent global pharmaceutical group governed by a non-profit foundation, and Black Diamond Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage oncology company developing MasterKey therapies that target families of oncogenic mutations in patients with cancer, announced a strategic worldwide licensing agreement for BDTX-4933, a potential best-in-class targeted therapy for solid tumors. Under this global agreement, Servier will develop and commercialize BDTX-4933, a small molecule designed by Black Diamond Therapeutics to address unmet medical needs in RAF/RAS-mutant solid tumors.
“At Servier, we are dedicated to transforming patient care in areas with significant unmet needs. Our partnership to develop BDTX-4933 is an important opportunity in targeted cancer therapies, as we believe we can serve more people by helping the right patients find the right treatment, at the right time,” said Claude Bertrand, Executive Vice-President of R&D at Servier. “We look forward to accelerating the development of this therapy as a potential best-in-class treatment for cancer patients.”
“This agreement supports our mission to advance oral cancer therapies designed to give patients the opportunity for longer, healthier, and more active lives,” said Mark Velleca, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Black Diamond Therapeutics. “Servier’s commitment to innovation and deep expertise in oncology make it an ideal partner for Black Diamond as we work to develop breakthrough cancer treatments.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Servier will lead the development activities and the worldwide commercialization of BDTX-4933 across multiple indications, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with potential applications in other solid tumors. Black Diamond Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment of $70 million and will be eligible to receive up to $710 million in development and commercial sales milestone payments, along with tiered royalties based on global net sales.
Currently in Phase 1 development, BDTX-4933 is uniquely designed to target RAS and RAF alterations in solid tumors. The dose escalation and expansion cohort first-in-human study aims at evaluating safety and tolerability, the preliminary recommended Phase 2 dose, and antitumor activity of BDTX-4933 in adults with recurrent advanced/metastatic cancers harboring BRAF, CRAF, or NRAS mutations.