Pfizer inks US$ 6 bn oncology deal with China’s 3SBio; BioNTech to invest US$ 1.3 bn in UK for new R&D, AI centers

By PharmaCompass

2025-05-22

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In news this week, Pfizer announced a US$ 6 billion licensing agreement with China’s 3SBio, securing global rights to a promising cancer drug. BioNTech pledged a US$ 1.3 billion investment to expand its research and development and artificial intelligence footprint in the UK.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signaled tighter standards for Covid-19 booster approvals, particularly for healthy individuals under 65.

In deals, Eli Lilly deepened its push into genetic medicine through a US$ 1.3 billion partnership with South Korea’s Rznomics for RNA-based hearing loss therapies. Lilly is also considering setting up a US$ 5.9 billion API plant in Houston. Sanofi acquired Vigil Neuroscience for its phase-2 ready Alzheimer’s drug, while Roche’s Genentech signed a second deal with Orionis to strengthen its oncology pipeline.

In the regulatory news, Amneal won FDA approval for Brekiya, the first self-administered DHE autoinjector for migraines, offering patients a convenient new treatment option. Meanwhile, Incyte secured a landmark FDA approval for Zynyz, now the first sanctioned, first-line treatment for advanced anal cancer.

In corporate shakeups, Novo Nordisk abruptly announced the departure of CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen amid mounting pressure from Eli Lilly’s rising dominance in the weight-loss drug space.

Pfizer inks US$ 6 bn deal with China’s 3SBio for its experimental cancer drug

Pfizer has entered into a licensing agreement with China’s 3SBio for an experimental cancer drug candidate, SSGJ-707. Under the deal, Pfizer will pay US$ 1.25 billion upfront and potentially up to an additional US$ 4.8 billion based on the achievement of development milestones. Additionally, Pfizer plans to invest US$ 100 million in 3SBio through an equity stake once the transaction is finalized in the third quarter of 2025.

SSGJ-707 is currently undergoing clinical trials in China for several cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic colorectal cancer, and gynecological tumors. The agreement grants Pfizer global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the drug (excluding China), with an option to also commercialize it within China.

Sanofi acquires Vigil Neuroscience; Genentech signs second deal with Orionis

Sanofi has announced the acquisition of Vigil Neuroscience, a clinical-stage biotech, for US$ 470 million. Through this acquisition, Sanofi will gain access to Vigil’s phase-2 ready, experimental Alzheimer’s drug — VG-3927. The total value of the transaction, including a potential contingent value right payment, represents approximately US$ 600 million on a fully diluted basis.

Genentech-Orionis deal: Roche’s subsidiary Genentech has entered into a second deal with Orionis Biosciences to expand its search for new proteins that would help it discover novel and challenging targets in oncology. The first deal between the two companies was announced in September 2023.

Under the terms of the agreement, Orionis will be responsible for the discovery and optimization of molecular glues, while Genentech will be responsible for subsequent later-stage preclinical and clinical development, regulatory filing, and commercialization of such small molecules. Orionis will receive an upfront payment of US$ 105 million and is potentially eligible to receive payments in excess of US$ 2 billion.

BioNTech to invest US$ 1.3 bn in UK for new R&D, AI centers

German biotech firm BioNTech has announced a £1 billion (US$ 1.33 billion) investment in the UK over the next decade, aiming to advance research in personalized mRNA-based cancer therapies. This initiative is bolstered by a £129 million (US$ 172 million) grant from the UK government, marking one of the largest subsidies awarded to a pharmaceutical company in the country. The investment will fund the establishment of two new research centers: a genomics and oncology facility in Cambridge and an artificial intelligence hub in London, led by BioNTech’s subsidiary, InstaDeep. These centers are expected to create over 400 highly skilled jobs.

FDA outlines stricter requirements for Covid-19 vaccine booster jabs

FDA has outlined more stringent requirements for the approval of updated Covid-19 vaccines, particularly affecting healthy individuals under the age of 65. Under the new guidelines, vaccine manufacturers must conduct new clinical trials to demonstrate the efficacy of annual Covid-19 boosters. This comes after FDA granted full approval to Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid, but with significant restrictions. Its use has now been restricted to people over 12 years who have at least one underlying health condition.

Lilly in US$ 1.3 bn deal with Rznomics for RNA-based therapies to treat hearing loss

Eli Lilly has announced a strategic collaboration with South Korea’s Rznomics, committing up to US$ 1.3 billion to develop RNA-based therapies aimed at treating hearing loss. This partnership underscores Lilly’s growing investment in genetic medicine and its focus on addressing unmet medical needs in auditory health.

To set up US$ 5.9 bn API plant in Texas: Lilly is considering an investment of US$ 5.9 billion to establish an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility in northeast Houston, Texas. The proposed site spans 236 acres. If approved, this project would mark Lilly’s first major manufacturing presence in the Houston area.

Amneal’s self-administered migraine treatment gets FDA nod

FDA has approved Amneal Pharmaceuticals’ Brekiya (dihydroergotamine mesylate) injection, marking the first and only dihydroergotamine (DHE) autoinjector for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura and cluster headaches in adults.

Brekiya delivers a 1 mg dose subcutaneously into the thigh via a pre-filled, ready-to-use autoinjector that requires no refrigeration, assembly, or priming. This innovation allows patients to self-administer hospital-grade DHE at home, offering a practical alternative for those who experience nausea, vomiting, or gastroparesis during migraine attacks, or who do not respond well to oral therapies.

Incyte’s med okayed for advanced anal cancer: Incyte’s immunotherapy drug Zynyz (retifanlimab-dlwr) has received FDA approva l for treating advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCAC), four years after an initial rejection. The approval encompasses two indications: first-line treatment in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel for inoperable, locally recurrent or metastatic SCAC, and second-line monotherapy for patients whose disease has progressed on or are intolerant to platinum-based chemotherapy.

Novo Nordisk ousts CEO in surprise move amid growing competition from Lilly

Novo Nordisk has announced the departure of CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen following intense competition and declining market share in the weight-loss drug sector. The decision comes after a significant drop in Novo Nordisk’s stock value, which has fallen by over 50 percent since mid-2024. The company’s flagship weight-loss drug, Wegovy (semaglutide), faced supply shortages and increased competition from Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide), which has gained substantial market share in the US.

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