Sichuan Kelun-Biotech and Crescent Biopharma have announced a strategic oncology partnership, a move that positions both companies at the forefront of next-generation cancer treatments, combining bispecific antibody and ADC technologies with a global commercialization strategy.

 

The collaboration centers on Crescent’s CR-001, a PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody, and Kelun-Biotech’s SKB105, an integrin beta-6 (ITGB6)-targeting antibody-drug conjugate with a topoisomerase payload. Both drugs are designed for solid tumors and are slated to enter Phase 1/2 monotherapy trials in early 2026.

 

Under the agreement, Kelun-Biotech gains exclusive rights to CR-001 in Greater China, while Crescent will handle SKB105 development and commercialization in the U.S., Europe, and other regions outside Greater China. The partnership also allows both companies to explore CR-001 and SKB105 as monotherapies and in combination, as well as CR-001 in other proprietary ADC combinations.

 

Dr. Michael Ge, CEO of Kelun-Biotech, said, "We are pleased to have entered into a partnership with Crescent for two innovative assets, CR-001 and SKB105. This collaboration complements and strengthens our differentiated oncology pipeline by the addition of CR-001 and also enables us to advance the development of SKB105 in the global market, bolstering its potential commercial value and our global collaboration network. 

 

"Our creative global partnership combines the capabilities of both companies to explore novel monotherapies and combination strategies for tumor treatments with SKB105 and CR-001. By leveraging China's abundant clinical resources and execution efficiency, we aim to expedite clinical development while rigorously maintaining the highest global standards. We believe this partnership creates a powerful synergy to maximize the potential of these two drug candidates for the treatment of patients in both China and the rest of the world."

 

Joshua Brumm, CEO of Crescent, added, "We are thrilled to be partnering with Kelun-Biotech, an established leader in the development and commercialization of ADCs who shares our commitment to bringing next generation therapeutics that can improve outcomes for people living with cancer. 

 

"This collaboration expands our pipeline with the addition of SKB105, furthers our strategy of advancing multiple modalities across our portfolio, and accelerates our efforts to deliver synergistic combinations with CR-001, which has the potential to be a foundational backbone therapy. We look forward to working with Kelun-Biotech to drive innovative therapeutics with the potential to address multiple tumor types and transform cancer care."

 

Financial terms of the deal include an upfront payment of $80 million from Crescent to Kelun-Biotech, with potential milestone payments of up to $1.25 billion plus tiered royalties on SKB105 sales. Crescent will receive an upfront $20 million from Kelun-Biotech and milestone payments up to $30 million, along with tiered royalties on CR-001 sales.