Elranatamab

iStock, Oleksii Liskonih After inking a T cell engager pact with Chimagen Biosciences a few years ago, GSK is back for more, this time acquiring a multiple myeloma program from the antibody specialist. GSK is picking up a preclinical trispecific T cell engager from China biotech Chimagen Biosciences in a deal that could reach up to $750 million. The British pharma will pay an undisclosed upfront fee for full global rights to the candidate, which is expected to enter the clinic for multiple myeloma next year, according to a Tuesday release . Chimagen will have the chance to collect undisclosed development and commercial milestone payments for a potential deal value total of up to $750 million. This is the second time GSK has nabbed a pipeline program from Chimagen, following a 2024 deal worth up to $850 million that centered on a separate T cell engager (TCE) that targets B cell-mediated conditions. GSK said its newly acquired TCE—which is designed to target T cells and two tumor antigens—can potentially provide differentiated efficacy and a better safety pro to current TCEs. Approved TCEs for multiple myeloma include Johnson & Johnson’s Tecvayli and Talvey, Regeneron’s Lynozyfic and Pfizer’s Elrexfio. All four are bispecific antibodies that carry boxed warnings for cytokine release syndrome and neurologic toxicity. GSK is hoping the trispecific candidate from Chimagen will help boost adoption and earlier use for patients with multiple myeloma. “The agreement complements our existing portfolio in multiple myeloma, adding a new potential option to address the different needs of patients facing this complex disease,” Hesham Abdullah, GSK global head of oncology and R&D, said in a prepared statement. Lung cancer Summit, BioNTech, more headline WCLC with next-gen lung cancer drugs BioNTech, Summit Therapeutics, GSK and Roche have made a splash at the ongoing World Conference on Lung Cancer taking place in South Korea. These companies and their partners have all shared new findings for their closely watched programs, highlighting overall survival benefits in various types of lung cancer. September 14, 2026 · 4 min read · Gabrielle Masson Read more The pact builds on GSK’s 2024 deal with Chimagen, when the pharma paid $300 million upfront and offered $550 million in biobucks for CMG1A46, a clinical-stage bispecific TCE that targets CD19 and CD20. The program is currently in Phase 1 trials for B cell malignancies and B cell dependent autoimmune disorders, according to GSK. GSK’s oncology pipeline also includes the late-stage asset risvutatug rezetecan (ris-rez), a B7-H3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate being developed with China’s Hansoh Pharma. Over the weekend, the partners shared that ris-rez was tied to a median OS of 18.5 months in relapsed small cell lung cancer—a 54% reduced death risk compared with standard-of-care. In December 2023, the U.K. pharma paid $185 million to secure exclusive global rights to ris-rez outside of China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and additional payments could bring that deal’s total as high as $1.7 billion. News of the new Chimagen pact also follows on the heels of reports of 650 staffers laid off at GSK. The job cuts are related to a vaccine manufacturing site closure, with the company consolidating its efforts to one site in Canada. In July, the pharma announced a sweeping restructure designed to save about $2.5 billion over the next three years, with the expected savings designed to buoy its portfolio and late-stage pipeline. Earnings GSK shares rise as $2.5B cost-cutting plan unveiled As GSK records $2.4 billion in impairment charges for the second quarter, the U.K. pharma has announced a sweeping restructure designed to save about the same amount of money over the next few years. July 28, 2026 · 4 min read · Gabrielle Masson Read more

Arlocabtagene autoleucel met the primary endpoint of overall response rate (ORR) and all key secondary endpoints in the registrational QUINTESSENTIAL Phase II trial, Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) reported on September 8, 2026. The result positions the GPRC5D-directed CAR T cell therapy for a BLA submission targeting one of the most treatment-resistant populations in multiple myeloma: patients who have already progressed through an immunomodulatory drug, a proteasome inhibitor, an anti-CD38 antibody, and a BCMA-directed therapy. The trial enrolled adults with quadruple-class exposed relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who had received at least four prior lines of therapy. BMS described the ORR improvement as statistically significant and clinically meaningful; the complete response rate (CRR) secondary endpoint was also met, as were ORR and CRR endpoints in a broader cohort with three or more prior lines. No numerical data were disclosed — full results are expected at an upcoming medical conference. The safety profile was described as consistent with other CAR T and GPRC5D-targeting therapies. Arlo-cel, as it is also known, targets GPRC5D, a receptor expressed on malignant plasma cells whose expression is independent of BCMA and is maintained after prior BCMA-directed therapy. By directing engineered autologous T cells against a non-BCMA antigen, the therapy is designed to retain activity in patients where BCMA-targeted agents have already failed. Phase I data presented at ASH 2024 showed an ORR of 87% at a median follow-up of 16.1 months, with median progression-free survival of 18.3 months and median overall survival not reached. Currently Johnson & Johnson's Talvey (talquetamab-tgvs), a GPRC5D×CD3 bispecific antibody, is the only currently approved GPRC5D-targeted therapy and offers a non-BCMA option that can be used after prior BCMA-directed treatment. Talquetamab requires ongoing subcutaneous dosing on a weekly or biweekly schedule. Arlo-cel, as a CAR T therapy, is designed as a single infusion — a structural differentiator that, if efficacy and safety hold at scale, could alter prescribing patterns in this setting. Approved BCMA-directed CAR T therapies — BMS's own Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel) and Johnson & Johnson's Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) — generally show lower response rates or shorter durability after prior BCMA exposure, increasing interest in alternative targets such as GPRC5D, and BCMA bispecifics elranatamab and teclistamab show reduced efficacy in BCMA-pre-exposed patients. BMS said QUINTESSENTIAL is the first pivotal trial to evaluate a therapy specifically in quadruple-class exposed RRMM following prior BCMA-targeted therapy. The company has the QUINTESSENTIAL-2 Phase III randomized study already recruiting, comparing arlo-cel against standard of care in lenalidomide-refractory RRMM — a broader population that would support a larger commercial label if approved. BMS said detailed QUINTESSENTIAL results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting, with the detailed results expected to inform a potential BLA submission.. Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article