Key Takeaways
- BioNTech and Bristol Myers Squibb have entered a major global collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialize BNT327, a bispecific antibody for solid tumors, with $1.5B upfront, $2 billion total in non-contingent anniversary payments through 2028, and up to $7.6B in milestone payments.
- BNT327 is already in global Phase III trials for lung cancer, with a breast cancer trial set to launch soon, underscoring its promise as a first-line treatment across multiple hard-to-treat tumor types.
BioNTech SE and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) are partnering up on both the global co-development and co-commercialization of BioNTech’s investigational bispecific antibody across multiple types of solid tumors.1 Branded as BNT327, the companies will work together to speed up this clinical candidate’s development.
Agreement details
Per the deal, BMS will pay BioNTech an upfront payment of $1.5 billion, and $2 billion total in non-contingent anniversary payments through 2028. BioNTech will also qualify to receive an extra $7.6 billion if further development, regulatory, and commercial milestones are met. The companies will be dividing any development and manufacturing costs down the middle, and profits or losses will be equally shared as well.
The parties will be working to together to produce and commercialize BNT327—a bispecific antibody candidate that attacks PD-L1 and VEGF-A—alongside the development of BNT327 as monotherapy and in combination with other products. It is designed to restore the immune system’s ability to fight cancer by combining PD-L1 checkpoint inhibition, which helps T cells recognize and attack tumor cells, with VEGF-A neutralization. By blocking VEGF-A, the therapy intends to both counter the tumor’s immunosuppressive microenvironment and disrupt its blood and oxygen supply—an anti-angiogenic effect intended to stop tumor growth and spread.
The agreement also states that both companies are allowed to develop BNT327 in further indications and combinations independently. This can even consist of any combinations of BNT327 that contain branded pipeline assets.
“We believe BNT327 has the potential to become a foundational immuno-oncology backbone, moving beyond single-mechanism checkpoint inhibitors and expanding into multiple solid-tumor indications. Our collaboration with BMS, a pioneering leader in immuno-oncology, aims to accelerate and broadly expand BNT327’s development to fully realize its potential,” said Prof. Ugur Sahin, MD, BioNTech’s CEO and co-founder. “Our focus remains on advancing high-impact, pan-tumor programs and combination strategies in oncology, with BNT327 complementing our antibody-drug conjugate programs and mRNA-based immunotherapies. We are dedicated to delivering truly transformative options for patients in need.”
