Roche has made a substantial move by agreeing to pay Roivant and Pfizer $7.1 billion upfront for regional rights to the promising bowel disease candidate, anti-TL1A antibody RVT-3101, which is on the verge of entering phase 3. The agreement also involves an additional $150 million near-term milestone payment. Roche’s deal secures rights to RVT-3101 in the United States and Japan.
TL1A has generated significant interest due to its potential to improve outcomes in conditions such as ulcerative colitis, with midphase data on RVT-3101 and Merck’s rival candidate, MK-7240, supporting its therapeutic potential.
Roche’s strategic acquisition of Telavant, a biotech established by Roivant and Pfizer for advancing RVT-3101 in the US and Japan, grants the Swiss drugmaker a prominent position in the TL1A space. Roivant owns 75% of Telavant, while Pfizer retains the remaining 25% and retains the rights to RVT-3101 for the rest of the world.
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The partnership with Pfizer, formed just 11 months ago, has rapidly evolved into a significant opportunity for Roivant. For Roche, this acquisition presents an opportunity to compete directly with Merck for a potentially blockbuster product. While the initial focus for TL1A developers is ulcerative colitis, RVT-3101 is already positioned for phase 3 trials, with plans to expand into other conditions, including Crohn’s disease.
Roche’s CEO, Thomas Schinecker, expressed confidence in the novel TL1A-directed antibody’s transformative potential to significantly impact patients with inflammatory bowel disease and potentially other diseases.
This transaction concludes a remarkable year in the TL1A space. Pfizer’s collaboration with Roivant, resulting in the creation of the jointly-owned biotech Telavant, initially raised questions about confidence in TL1A. However, impressive clinical data shared by Prometheus Biosciences and Roivant dispelled any doubts. Merck’s acquisition of Prometheus for $10.8 billion underscored the excitement in the field. Sanofi also entered the arena recently, paying Teva around $500 million for a chance to co-develop a promising TL1A drug candidate.
In addition to securing rights to a TL1A frontrunner, Roche has also gained an option to collaborate with Pfizer on a p40xTL1A bispecific antibody currently in phase 1, offering potential opportunities for further innovation in the field.
