Novartis and Legend Biotech Strike $1 Billion Deal on CAR-T Therapy for Lung Cancer

In a significant stride towards innovative cancer treatment, Novartis has partnered with Legend Biotech to advance a groundbreaking cell therapy, LB2102, targeting lung cancer. The agreement, involving an upfront payment of $100 million from Novartis to Legend, could potentially reach over $1 billion in milestone payments, marking a pivotal moment in cancer therapeutics.

LB2102, currently in Phase 1 trials, represents a bold venture into uncharted territory for CAR-T cell therapy, traditionally successful in treating blood cancers but yet to prove its efficacy in solid tumors like lung cancer. This experimental therapy targets the Delta-like ligand protein 3 (DLL3), a protein that, despite previous unsuccessful drug development attempts, shows promise in the treatment of small cell lung cancer and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Underpinning this venture is Novartis' cutting-edge T-Charge manufacturing platform. T-Charge aims to revolutionize the production of cancer-fighting cells, focusing on reducing manufacturing time and improving cell durability. This innovative process allows a significant portion of CAR-T cell expansion to occur inside the patient's body, enhancing the potency and persistence of the treatment while potentially mitigating severe adverse events.

Guowei Fang, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Business Development at Legend Biotech, stated that they believe LB2102 possesses an innovative CAR design which enhances its anti-tumor activity, and pointed out: 

“The preclinical evidence shows that an autologous CAR-T could be a differentiated treatment option for patients with small cell lung cancer. We are excited that a major pharmaceutical company with deep roots in oncology and cell therapy has chosen to further this product candidate in the clinic. We are delighted that a combination of our unique candidate design in LB2102 with the T-Charge platform may potentially offer transformative benefits to small cell lung cancer patients.”

The collaboration leverages Legend Biotech's expertise, as demonstrated in their successful development of the CAR-T drug Carvykti for multiple myeloma, in partnership with Johnson & Johnson. Legend will spearhead the initial Phase 1 testing of LB2102 in the United States, after which Novartis will assume further development responsibilities.

This partnership comes at a crucial time for Novartis, as the company already has two homegrown CAR-T therapies in clinical trials using the T-Charge platform. These therapies have shown promising results in treating relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma. With LB2102, Novartis not only extends the potential of T-Charge to externally developed CAR-T therapies but also marks its first application in solid-tumor-focused cell therapy.

Novartis' commitment to the T-Charge platform, exclusively applicable to autologous therapies, underscores its belief in personalized medicine's transformative potential. The collaboration with Legend Biotech opens a new chapter in oncology, with the promise of delivering more effective, personalized treatments for cancer patients worldwide.