BeiGene enters collaboration on solid tumors with Pfizer spin-out

China’s BeiGene (Nasdaq: BGNE) and SpringWorks Therapeutics, have entered into a global clinical collaboration agreement to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of combining BeiGene’s investigational RAF dimer inhibitor, lifirafenib (BGB-283) and SpringWorks’ investigational MEK inhibitor, PD-0325901, in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Under the terms of the agreement, BeiGene will be responsible for administering the Phase 1b clinical trial that is expected to commence during the first quarter of 2019 in patients with advanced solid tumors that harbor RAS, RAF mutations and other MAPK pathway aberrations, with all costs of the clinical studies and governance responsibilities to be shared equally among both parties. SpringWorks, which was spun out of US pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) in 2017, will also oversee fixed-dose formulation work as part of the collaboration.

Just a couple of months ago BeiGene, shares of which dipped 2.87% to HK$98.10 today, announced it will list on the Hong Kong stock exchange with an initial public offering (IPO) expected to bring in around $1 billion (US$).