Summary
BeOne Medicines Ltd. (referred to as BeiGene in the filing) announced a significant Collaboration and License Agreement with Novartis Pharma AG on January 11, 2021. This agreement grants Novartis the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize BeiGene's anti-PD-1 antibody, tislelizumab, in key global markets including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the UK, Russia, and Japan. This strategic partnership is expected to significantly enhance the global reach and commercial potential of tislelizumab.
Key Highlights
- 1BeiGene has entered into a material definitive agreement with Novartis Pharma AG for its anti-PD-1 antibody, tislelizumab.
- 2Novartis gains rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize tislelizumab in a substantial Licensed Territory (US, Canada, Mexico, EU, UK, Russia, Japan).
- 3BeiGene will receive an upfront payment of $650 million from Novartis.
- 4Additional potential payments include up to $1.3 billion in regulatory milestones, $250 million in sales milestones, and tiered royalties ranging from high-teens to high-twenties on net sales.
- 5Both companies will jointly develop tislelizumab in the Licensed Territory, with Novartis leading regulatory submissions and commercialization post-approval.
- 6BeiGene will fund ongoing clinical trials, while Novartis will fund new registrational, bridging, or post-marketing studies in the Licensed Territory.
- 7The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2021, subject to regulatory approvals, including antitrust clearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
This 8-K filing primarily announces a material definitive agreement between BeOne Medicines Ltd. (BeiGene) and Novartis Pharma AG. The agreement grants Novartis rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize BeiGene's anti-PD-1 antibody, tislelizumab, in a significant global territory.
BeiGene stands to receive a substantial upfront cash payment of $650 million. Furthermore, the company is eligible for up to $1.3 billion in regulatory milestone payments and $250 million in sales milestone payments. Additionally, BeiGene will receive tiered royalties on net sales of tislelizumab in the licensed territory, ranging from the high-teens to high-twenties percentage.
BeiGene will continue to be responsible for funding ongoing clinical trials, and initially supply tislelizumab. Novartis will be responsible for regulatory submissions and commercialization in the Licensed Territory after a transition period. Novartis will fund new registrational, bridging, or post-marketing studies in the Licensed Territory, and both parties may jointly fund other agreed-upon clinical trials. Novartis also has the option to manufacture tislelizumab after a successful process transfer.
The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021. The closing is subject to the expiration or early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, indicating antitrust clearance is a key condition.