MediLink developed the TMALIN ADC linker platform, licensed to Zai Lab, BioNTech, and Roche.
MediLink Therapeutics, based in Suzhou, developed the TMALIN antibody-drug conjugate linker platform, which it has licensed to Zai Lab, BioNTech and Roche. Its pipeline includes YL201, a B7-H3 ADC in phase 3 in small-cell lung cancer, ZL-6201 against LRRC15 with Zai Lab, and a c-MET ADC deal with Roche. OnCo links it to B7-H3 as a target and to Zai Lab as a partner. Whether a linker platform company can hold on to its own lead programme rather than out-license everything is the open question. The B7-H3 target page carries the competitive picture.
| Date | Deal | Type | Upfront | Total | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01 | MediLink Therapeutics to Roche / Genentech YL211, c-MET ADC | Licence | $50m | about $1.0bn | source |
| 2023-10 | MediLink Therapeutics to BioNTech YL202 (BNT326), HER3 ADC on the TMALIN linker platform | Licence | $70m | more than $1.0bn | source |
YL201 is an experimental antibody-drug conjugate from MediLink Therapeutics (Suzhou) in phase 3 trials for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, non-small-cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer, aimed at B7-H3.
YL202 is an experimental antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) from MediLink Therapeutics (Suzhou) in phase 3 trials for non-small-cell lung cancer, HR-positive / HER2-negative breast cancer and colorectal cancer, aimed at HER3.