Chinese pharmaceutical company Haisco Pharmaceutical Group has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with US-based biotechnology firm Nuvectis Pharma, granting the latter rights to develop and commercialise two investigational drug candidates targeting oncology and complement-mediated diseases.

 Under the agreement, Nuvectis has secured worldwide rights, excluding certain Asian territories, for HSK42360 and HSK39297. Haisco will receive $40 million in upfront and near-term payments, with the potential to earn up to $1.4 billion in development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, in addition to tiered royalties on future product sales.

 HSK42360 is a next-generation BRAF paradoxical breaker inhibitor being evaluated in a Phase I clinical trial in China. The drug is designed to overcome resistance mechanisms associated with currently available BRAF inhibitors used in cancer treatment.

The second candidate, HSK39297, is a potential once-daily complement factor B (CFB) inhibitor being developed for complement-mediated disorders. The drug has already received two NDA submissions in China for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH), while additional clinical studies are underway for other indications.

The agreement includes provisions allowing certain milestone payments to be made through a combination of cash and Nuvectis common stock, subject to specified limits. Haisco will also be entitled to sublicense-related payments if Nuvectis transfers rights or undergoes a change of control during a defined period.

Haisco CEO Dr. Pangke Yan said the collaboration aligns with the company's global development strategy and is expected to create long-term value while accelerating the worldwide development of innovative oncology and complement therapies.