Sidley represented NextCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering and developing novel, first-in-class and best-in-class therapies to treat cancer, in a strategic partnership with Simcere Zaiming to develop SIM0505, a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting CDH6 (cadherin-6 or K-cadherin) for the treatment of solid tumors. As part of the partnership, NextCure obtained global rights to SIM0505 excluding Greater China, where Simcere Zaiming will retain rights. The partnership also includes a license for NextCure to access Simcere Zaiming’s proprietary linker and topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (TOPOi) payload for a preclinical-stage novel target ADC developed by NextCure. Simcere Zaiming will have Greater China rights to this additional novel target ADC.
SIM0505 uses a unique binding epitope with increased tumor binding and features Simcere Zaiming’s proprietary TOPOi payload. Preclinical studies have demonstrated robust anti-tumor activity across multiple solid tumor models, and a promising safety profile in toxicology models. SIM0505 is currently in Phase 1 clinical testing in China. NextCure expects to begin clinical testing of SIM0505 in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2025.
Under the terms of the agreement, Simcere Zaiming is eligible to receive payments throughout the potential development phases, including upfront payment, development, regulatory and sales milestones up to US$745 million, as well as tiered royalties up to double digits on net sales outside of the Greater China territory.
The Sidley team was led by Asher Rubin, Adriana Tibbitts, and Jean Qiu (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions); and Istvan A. Hajdu and Kostian Ciko (Capital Markets); and included James Mendenhall, Carys Golesworthy, and Lloyd Lyall (Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy); Lara Shalov Mehraban and Barbara J. Endres (Securities Enforcement and Regulatory); Nicholas V. Sgroi (Capital Markets); Christian Brause and Tyler J. Combest (Tax); Ruchun Ji and Nick DeAngelis (M&A); and Chen Yang (Food, Drug and Medical Device).
For additional information, please refer to the press release.
