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US-based Agenus Inc., a leader in immuno-oncology innovation, has signed definitive partnership agreements with Ahmedabad-based Zydus Lifesciences, including its subsidiaries/affiliates, designed to accelerate clinical development, scale global manufacturing, and expand patient access to botensilimab and balstilimab (BOT/BAL).
The strategic collaboration includes an exchange of Agenus’ state-of-the-art biologics CMC facilities in Emeryville, CA and Berkeley, CA for upfront consideration of $75 million; Agenus to receive up to an additional $50 million in contingent payments triggered by BOT/BAL production orders. Zydus, an India-based multinational pharmaceutical company with over 27,000 employees and operations in 55 countries, will launch a BioCDMO business using the facilities as their flagship US sites to provide biologics contract manufacturing services to biopharmaceutical companies globally.
Agenus will become Zydus’ first BioCDMO customer through an exclusive manufacturing agreement for BOT/BAL to ensure the combination regimen’s BLA and launch readiness needs. This collaboration enables Agenus to unlock the value of its manufacturing assets and secure strategic capital to drive BOT/BAL toward global regulatory engagement and commercialisation.
Agenus will also grant Zydus an exclusive license to develop and commercialize BOT and BAL in India and Sri Lanka, capitalizing on Zydus’ established local market presence and infrastructure. Zydus will pay Agenus a 5 percent royalty on net sales in those countries.
