Apollomics Strikes $60M Deal with LaunXP for c-MET Inhibitor Rights in Asia

Apollomics, a Foster City, California-based biotech company, has entered into a significant licensing agreement with Taiwan's LaunXP Biomedical for its lead c-MET inhibitor, vebreltinib. The deal, announced on March 31, 2025, grants LaunXP the rights to develop and commercialize vebreltinib in combination with an EGFR inhibitor in Asia, excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Deal Structure and Financial Terms

The agreement includes an upfront payment of $10 million to be paid by LaunXP within 60 days. Additionally, the deal encompasses $50 million in regulatory and other pre-commercial milestones, along with royalties on net sales. This structure underscores the potential value of vebreltinib in the Asian market and reflects the confidence both companies have in the drug's future.

Clinical Promise and Development Strategy

Vebreltinib has shown promising results in a phase 2 Chinese trial involving patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and confirmed METex14 mutation. The study, which reported findings in September, demonstrated an impressive overall response rate of 66.7% and a median progression-free survival of 13.8 months.

Dr. Guo-Liang Yu, CEO of Apollomics, emphasized the strategic importance of combining vebreltinib with EGFR inhibitors, stating, "EGFRi is currently the frontline treatment for many patients with NSCLC, and combining it with our c-Met inhibitor vebreltinib is expected to transform the standard of care."

LaunXP's Chairman and President, Dr. Chiu-Heng Chen, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the potential of the combination therapy to delay the emergence of mutations causing EGFR inhibitor resistance, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes.

Apollomics' Strategic Focus and Future Outlook

This deal comes in the wake of Apollomics' restructuring efforts last summer, which saw the company narrow its focus on vebreltinib's development. The biotech has shifted its phase 2 trial to concentrate specifically on patients with MET amplification in NSCLC.

Despite facing a setback with the phase 3 failure of its E-selectin inhibitor uproleselan in relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at the end of 2024, Apollomics remains committed to maximizing the global opportunity for vebreltinib. The company is exploring both single-agent and combination approaches for cancer treatment.

As the pharmaceutical landscape continues to evolve, this partnership between Apollomics and LaunXP represents a significant step forward in addressing the unmet needs of NSCLC patients in Asia and potentially beyond.