Agenus and Zydus full $141 million collaboration settlement for BOT+BAL in immunotherapy
Agenus has accomplished a $141 million strategic collaboration with Zydus Lifesciences to speed up the worldwide growth and potential commercialization of its botsilimab and balstilimab (BOT/BAL) immunotherapy mixture program.
The collaboration secures financing and sustainable biologics manufacturing capability within the U.S. for Agenus, supporting medical growth, early entry initiatives and future industrial manufacturing.
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Beneath the settlement, Agenus has granted Zydus unique rights to develop and commercialize BOT/BAL in Sri Lanka and India, with Agenus eligible to obtain a 5% royalty on web gross sales in these markets.
Key monetary phrases embody an upfront money fee of $75 million to Agenus for the switch of producing websites in Emeryville and Berkeley, California, a $16 million fairness funding by Zydus in Agenus widespread inventory (roughly 2.1 million shares at $7.50 per share) and as much as $50 million in contingent milestone funds triggered by manufacturing orders from BOT+BAL.
Final yr, the BOT+BAL mixture demonstrated a two-year total survival charge of 42% and an grownup median total survival of 21 months in an expanded cohort of 123 sufferers with third-line or later microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal most cancers with out lively liver metastases.
Agenus, along with the Canadian Most cancers Trials Group, has initiated the worldwide BATTMAN Part III trial, with websites activated for affected person enrollment.
Following the closure, the manufacturing services in Emeryville and Berkeley shall be transferred to Zydus below the newly fashioned subsidiary Zylidac Bio.
Agenus maintains devoted manufacturing capability at these U.S. websites for international entry applications, commercialization and medical trials.
Agenus obtained advisory help from Porrima and Biotech Worth Advisors (BVA) within the areas of associate choice, transaction construction and negotiations.
Dr. Garo Armen, Chairman and CEO of Agenus, stated: “Closing this partnership with Zydus strengthens our stability sheet and, crucially, secures devoted US manufacturing capability at a vital time for Agenus.
“With these foundations in place, our focus in 2026 is on disciplined execution, advancing our Part III program, broadening paid affected person entry by way of approved pathways, and pursuing regulatory submissions, supported by one of the substantial medical information units generated within the subject of MSS colorectal most cancers.”
In June 2025, Agenus entered right into a $141 million partnership with Zydus Lifesciences and its subsidiaries to strengthen international manufacturing, advance medical growth and broaden entry to BOT/BAL.
