Pfizer has entered into a licensing agreement with China’s 3S Bio for a cancer drug that utilizes bi-specific antibody technology, targeting PD1 and VEGF. 3S Bio is currently conducting clinical trials for this drug in China, focusing on non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and gynecological tumors. Pfizer will pay 3S Bio $1.25 billion upfront and potentially up to $4.8 billion for the rights to develop and sell the drug outside of China.
SSGJ-707 is an investigational bispecific antibody developed by China’s 3SBio (specifically Sunshine Guojian Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary). It has recently garnered significant attention due to Pfizer’s exclusive global licensing agreement (excluding China) for its development, manufacturing, and commercialization.
Mechanism of Action: SSGJ-707 has a dual-action mechanism. It simultaneously blocks:
PD-1 (Programmed Death-1): This is an immune checkpoint protein. By blocking PD-1, the drug aims to “unleash” the body’s immune system, allowing T cells to better recognize and fight cancer cells.
VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor): This protein plays a crucial role in angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow and spread. By inhibiting VEGF, SSGJ-707 aims to “starve” tumors of their blood supply. This dual targeting is designed to enhance anti-tumor immunity while also disrupting the tumor’s vascular network, offering a potentially more comprehensive attack on cancer than single-agent therapies.
Development Status:
SSGJ-707 is currently undergoing several clinical trials in China.
It has shown promising early efficacy and safety data in various tumor types.
3SBio plans to initiate the first Phase 3 clinical trial in China in 2025 for the first-line treatment of PD-L1 positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This Phase 3 trial is designed to head-to-head against Merck’s blockbuster PD-1 inhibitor, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), with primary endpoint data expected by July 2026.
It is also undergoing Phase II studies for other indications, including metastatic colorectal cancer and advanced gynecological tumors.
Indications Under Investigation (in China):
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)
Gynecological tumors (e.g., endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer)
