Merck & Co. Drops Kelun Claudin 18.2 ADC But Exercises Bispecific Option

The changes mark the second major revision to the 2022 antibody-drug conjugate-focused alliance between the US and Chinese firms, which is now focusing on ADCs against Trop2, Nectin-4 and other undisclosed targets. Meanwhile, the results from other trials with Claudin 18.2 ADCs have used varying definitions of high expression, with differing results. 

ADC
Merck brings onboard a bispecific antibody-drug conjugate while ditching a Claudin 18.2-targeting ADC from Kelun-Biotech. • Source: Shutterstock

Merck & Co., Inc. has tweaked for the second time the lineup of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) it in-licensed from Chinese partner Kelun-Biotech in 2022, removing a Claudin 18.2-targeting ADC but exercising an option to add a adding a bispecific.

Claudin 18.2 has emerged as a major area of focus of R&D at innovative Chinese firms, which now have multiple assets against this target in development. (Also see "Chinese Biotechs Ascend Deal-Making By Partnering Up Claudin 18.2 Agents" - Scrip, 2 March, 2023

Key Takeaways
  • Merck & Co. has dropped SKB315(MK-1200), a Claudin 18.2-targeting ADC it in-licensed from Kelun-Biotech in 2022.

  • But the US pharma has exercised an exclusive option for non-greater China rights to SKB571, a preclinical bispecific ADC

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