Low-key interest in ROR1 continues

Interest in ROR1-targeting ADCs continues, notwithstanding several industry setbacks, and despite the most advanced player, Merck & Co, having to work hard to find a therapeutic window for zilovertamab vedotin. The latest example of ongoing enthusiasm is Wednesday's ex-China licensing deal covering CSPC's SYS6005, an MMAE payload ADC that's in a phase 1 China solid tumour study. The molecule has been picked up by Radiance Biopharma, a private US biotech that a year ago licensed Biocytogen's anti-HER2 x TROP2 bispecific ADC YH012/RB-201. True, the outlay in the latest deal is minimal – just $15m up front – but the move follows several other low-key transactions for anti-ROR1 ADCs, including MabCare's ZL-6301 and Sutro's STRO-003. At the same time the space has seen the blow-ups of Boehringer Ingelheim's BI 3702025 (the result of the acquisition of NBE-Therapeutics) and of Oncternal Therapeutics, and ongoing troubles at Lyell. Merck paid $2.8bn for VelosBio, whose zilo-V it has taken into phase 3 in the lowest of three doses studied in phase 2. Deal activity involving anti-ROR1 ADCsDateProjectSource companyPartnerTermsStatus19 Feb 2025SYS6005CSPCRadiance Biopharma$15m up frontPh1Jul 2024ZL-6301MabCareZai LabUndisclosedPreclinical2 Apr 2024STRO-003/ IPN60290SutroIpsen$90m in near-term paymentsPreclinical8 Jan 2024ZPC-21/ IM-1021ZentalisImmunome$35m up front (incl equity)Preclinical (now starting ph1)10 Dec 2020NBE-002/ BI 3702025NBE-TherapeuticsBoehringer Ingelheim$1.5bn (including milestones) takeoverDiscontinued Sep 20235 Nov 2020Zilovertamab vedotinVelosBioMerck & Co$2.8bn takeoverPh1/2 (now in ph3)28 Oct 2020ABL202/ LCB71ABL Bio/ LegoChemCstone$10m up frontPreclinical (now in ph1)Source: OncologyPipeline.