AstraZeneca has announced it has entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with Jacobio Pharma for its Pan-KRAS inhibitor drug candidate, JAB-23E73.

JAB-23E73 was developed using Jacobio's induced allosteric drug discovery platform, designed to target multiple KRAS mutation subtypes.¹ KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancers, present in approximately 23% of all patients.

Jacobio recently presented preclinical data of JAB-23E73 in a poster presentation at the 2025 AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, back in October of this year.

The preclinical results demonstrated the drug’s ability as a highly potent pan-KRAS (on/off) inhibitor with strong selectivity, sparing HRAS and NRAS inhibition.² Additionally, the compound exhibits superior antitumor activity across multiple cancer types harboring different KRAS driver mutations or amplification.

JAB-23E73 also displayed its ability to induce tumor regression without causing significant body weight loss in KRAS-driven mouse tumor models, indicating good tolerability along with a wide therapeutic window.² The compound showed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile for oral administration and exhibited plasma drug concentration-dependent intratumoral p-ERK inhibition.²

Recently, JAB-23E73 was studied in Phase I clinical trials in the US and China for patients with advance solid tumors harboring KRAS gene alterations.²

Matt Hellmann, senior vice president, early oncology and precision medicine, oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, touched on the definitive agreement, specifically the Pan-KRAS inhibitor, saying "KRAS is one of the most important oncogenes in cancer, with KRAS-mutated tumors driving profound unmet need for patients with pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers. By advancing KRAS inhibitors like JAB-23E73, and in combination with our diverse oncology portfolio, we aim to accelerate the development of new treatment regimens that have the potential to transform outcomes for patients."

What are the details of the definitive agreement?

Per the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca alone is expected to receive exclusive development and commercialization rights to JAB-23E73 outside of China, while Jacobio and AstraZeneca will both be responsible for the development and commercialization of JAB-23E73 in China.¹

As part of the agreement, Jacobio will receive an upfront payment upwards of $100 million, along with being granted eligibility for additional development and commercial milestone payments valued up to $1.915 billion. Jacobio will also be eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales achieved outside of China.¹

Yinxiang Wang PhD, chairman and co-CEO of Jacobio Pharma, released a statement in regard to the agreement, saying, "We are delighted to partner with AstraZeneca. This collaboration marks a significant step forward as we bring our world-class programs to the global stage and maximize the value of our R&D innovation. We are committed to providing breakthrough treatments and improving survival for patients, including those with KRAS-mutated cancers, across the world."

According to a press release, following the closing of the deal, Jacobio plans to continue its drive into the KRAS pathway, advancing tunable antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with KRAS inhibitors as payloads, developing differentiated drugs targeting more KRAS mutation types, and driving forward its next immuno-oncology programs, including its STING-based immune-cell directed ADC platform.¹

References

1. Jacobio Pharma Enters Global Exclusive License Agreement with AstraZeneca for Pan-KRAS Inhibitor JAB-23E73 Jacobio Pharma. December 21, 2025 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jacobio-pharma-enters-global-exclusive-license-agreement-with-astrazeneca-for-pan-kras-inhibitor-jab-23e73-302647567.html

2. Jacobio Presents Pre-Clinical Data of Pan-KRAS Inhibitor (JAB-23E73) at AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference Jcobio Pharma. October 23, 2025 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jacobio-presents-pre-clinical-data-of-pan-kras-inhibitor-jab-23e73-at-aacr-nci-eortc-international-conference-302592811.html