Zymeworks has entered into a global license and collaboration agreement with Roche for the research, development and commercialisation of ZW209, a T cell engager targeting DLL3. 

Under the agreement, Zymeworks is eligible to receive an upfront payment of $55 million, a $40 million payment upon initiation of the Phase Ib trial, and additional development, commercial and sales-based milestone payments of up to $718 million. 

Zymeworks will conduct the Phase Ia monotherapy trial of ZW209 in collaboration with Roche, bringing together Zymeworks’ expertise in multispecific antibody therapeutics with Roche’s global capabilities in the research, development, manufacturing and commercialisation of cancer medicines.  

Roche will fund the Phase Ia trial and be responsible for subsequent global development and commercialisation of ZW209. Under the agreement, Roche will have the exclusive right to develop and commercialise ZW209 globally. 

“This collaboration allows us to continue advancing ZW209 through its initial clinical development while leveraging Roche’s complementary capabilities to accelerate and expand its development across indications and treatment settings. The agreement also reflects our broader strategy of generating innovative programmes through our R&D engine and partnering selected assets in ways that share development risk while preserving meaningful participation in their future success,” said Adam Schayowitz, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D at Zymeworks. 

“ZW209 represents an innovative approach that complements our ongoing efforts to develop new treatment options for people living with lung cancer,” said Boris Zaïtra, Head of Corporate Business Development at Roche. “We look forward to collaborating with Zymeworks to fully explore its therapeutic potential.” 

Beyond ZW209, Zymeworks has a large portfolio of research programmes of multispecific T cell engagers against targets in solid tumours, haematological tumours, and AIID.