Sobi in-license loncastuximab tesirine from ADC Therapeutics

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (STO: SOBI), also known as Sobi, today announced an exclusive license agreement with Swiss firm ADC Therapeutics (NYSE: ADCT) to develop and commercialize loncastuximab tesirine for use in hematology and other indications of large unmet medical need in Europe and most international markets.

Trade named Zynlonta, loncastuximab tesirine is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) against CD19, a protein expressed on the surface of B cells. It is currently approved in the USA for adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The medicine has orphan drug designation in the EU and is under regulatory review with a decision anticipated in the first quarter of 2023.

The license agreement for loncastuximab tesirine aims at augmenting Sobi’s presence in orphan diseases within hematology, one of Sobi’s two main disease areas. The medicine will expand Sobi’s offering to patients with debilitating orphan diseases in hematology and is anticipated to be made commercially available alongside other Sobi hematology medicines, including Doptelet (avatrombopag).