MediLink Therapeutics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (“MediLink”), a clinical-stage biotech company, has initiated a strategic collaboration with BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX, “BioNTech”), a pioneer in next-generation immunotherapy for cancer and other serious diseases. This partnership grants BioNTech an exclusive option for a global license to leverage MediLink’s TMALIN® antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform across various innovative targets selected by BioNTech.
In this agreement, MediLink receives an initial payment of $25 million and stands to gain further through development, regulatory, and sales milestones, potentially amounting to $1.8 billion. Additionally, MediLink will earn tiered royalties based on future global annual net sales. MediLink retains the right of first negotiation for future collaborations concerning these ADC product candidates, particularly for the Mainland China market, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macau SAR, or Taiwan region.
The collaboration builds upon their previous venture in October 2023, where they collaborated on BNT326/YL202, an advanced anti-HER3 ADC. This expansion signifies a deepening of their partnership, solidifying mutual R&D efforts in the ADC domain.
Founded in 2020, MediLink Therapeutics focuses on developing conjugated drugs with global competitiveness, primarily through its proprietary TMALIN® ADC technology platform. TMALIN® employs dual cleavage mechanisms, both extracellularly in the tumor microenvironment and intracellularly in lysosomes. It boasts attributes such as high hydrophilicity, homogeneous drug-antibody ratio (DAR), excellent plasma stability, and specific tumor accumulation characteristics. Preclinical studies demonstrate significant therapeutic potential with a wide safety margin for ADCs developed using TMALIN®.
Several ADC products based on the TMALIN® platform have progressed to clinical trials. With headquarters in Suzhou, China, and R&D facilities in Shanghai, China, and Boston, US, MediLink aims to address unmet medical needs by providing enhanced treatment options for global patients. This collaboration with BioNTech underscores their commitment to advancing innovative therapies in oncology and beyond.