Key Takeaways
- Pfizer expands oncology pipeline with licensing deal worth up to $6 billion
Pfizer secures exclusive global rights (excluding China) to SSGJ-707, a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF, through a high-value agreement with 3SBio.
- SSGJ-707 shows strong early results in non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer
Clinical trials report up to 81.3% overall response rate (ORR) and 100% disease control rate (DCR) in NSCLC, with promising outcomes also seen in colorectal cancer.
- Global interest surges in bispecific antibodies for cancer
The deal follows recent moves by BioNTech and Akeso, signaling increased momentum around PD-1/VEGF bispecifics in the immuno-oncology space.
Pfizer has entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with 3SBio to develop, manufacture, and commercialize SSGJ-707, a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF pathways. The therapy is currently undergoing clinical trials in mainland China and has shown encouraging early efficacy and safety signals across multiple tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), and gynecological malignancies.
Is Pfizer’s $6 Billion+ Bet on SSGJ-707 a Turning Point for Bispecific Antibody Investment?
Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will acquire worldwide rights to SSGJ-707, excluding China, and retains an option to obtain commercialization rights within China in the future. In exchange, 3SBio will receive an upfront payment of $1.25 billion. The company is also eligible for additional milestone payments totaling up to $4.8 billion tied to development, regulatory, and commercial achievements, along with tiered, double-digit royalties on potential future sales.1
Competitive Landscape in Bispecific Antibodies
The deal adds to growing global interest in bispecific antibodies that simultaneously inhibit immune checkpoints and tumor angiogenesis. Recently, BioNTech SE announced an $800 million acquisition of Biotheus, a move aimed at bolstering its oncology pipeline. That deal included rights to BNT327/PM8002, a bispecific antibody that, like SSGJ-707, targets PD-L1 and VEGF. At the time, BioNTech stated that clinical trials were expected to initiate by 2025.2
More recently, Akeso's PD-1/VEGF bispecific candidate, ivonescimab, demonstrated superior efficacy compared to tislelizumab plus chemotherapy in first-line treatment of advanced squamous NSCLC. Ivonescimab achieved this in both PD-L1-positive and PD-L1-negative patient populations, highlighting the therapeutic promise of this bispecific class.3
Efficacy Highlights from SSGJ-707 Trials
In January, 3SBio released data from several early- and mid-stage trials of SSGJ-707. In a Phase II trial of PD-L1-positive NSCLC patients without EGFR/ALK mutations, the agent, when combined with chemotherapy, produced a 70.8% overall response rate (ORR) and a disease control rate (DCR) of 100%.
