SHANGHAI, CHINA, April 18, 2025 - JW Therapeutics (HKEx: 2126), the Company, an independent and innovative biotechnology company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing cell immunotherapy products, announced that it has entered into a technology License Agreement with Juno Therapeutics, Inc., (“Juno”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the global biopharmaceutical company, Bristol Myers Squibb. Upon receipt of the independent shareholder vote, the Company will grant Juno a non-exclusive license under the JW sLVV Manufacturing Process and under related know-how (and patents, if applicable at any time during the Term) that are primarily or directly related to, or reasonably necessary or useful for the development, commercialization, manufacturing or having manufactured the Juno Cell Therapy Products in the Field worldwide.
The aggregate value of the consideration payable by Juno to the Company under the License Agreement (i.e., (a) the Upfront Payment, (b) a subsequent additional payment and (c) the total value of the Vector with respect to which Juno has agreed to waive if certain conditions have been met (including the Vector supplied pursuant to the Material Transfer Agreement)) will not be more than [US$10 million].
JW Therapeutics has established a collaborative relationship with Juno, and continuation of this relationship with Juno is important to the Company’s business and development. For the Company to continue to execute on its business strategy to focus on potential opportunities in the cell therapy space that it deems to possess high growth or breakthrough technology potential, it is critical that the Company be able to leverage its CAR-T research, development, manufacturing and commercialization strengths in order to build on the foundation of this established relationship with Bristol Myers Squibb, which is one of the few biopharmaceutical companies in the world with a track record of completing CAR-T commercialization, and is a preferred partner of the Company.
Beyond the immediate financial benefit of the Upfront Payment and the further financial benefit of the subsequent additional payment, the License Agreement would result in the Company having an additional and reliable supply of Vector, which constitutes an essential component for the manufacturing of the Company’s core product, Carteyva®, while simultaneously enabling the Company to conserve cash for use in its operations.
The non-exclusive out-licensing of the JW sLVV Manufacturing Process pursuant to the License Agreement not only highlights the Company’s research and development capabilities but also affirms its leadership in cell therapy technologies. This collaboration will not only further strengthen JW Therapeutics' market position, strengthen its manufacturing capacity, but also support its long-term growth and success in the field of cell therapy, which is expected to benefit more patients in the future.
About JW Therapeutics
JW Therapeutics (HKEx: 2126) is an independent and innovative biotechnology company focusing on developing, manufacturing and commercializing cell immunotherapy products. Since its founding in 2016, the Company has built an integrated platform for product development in cell immunotherapy, as well as a product pipeline covering hematologic malignancies, solid tumors and autoimmune diseases. JW Therapeutics (HKEx: 2126) is committed to bringing breakthrough and quality cell immunotherapy products and the hope of a cure to patients in China and beyond, and to leading the healthy and standardized development of China’s cell immunotherapy industry. For more information, please visit www.jwtherapeutics.com.
About Relmacabtagene Autoleucel Injection
Relmacabtagene autoleucel injection (abbreviated as relma-cel, trade name for oncology indications: Carteyva®) is an autologous anti-CD19 CAR-T cell immunotherapy product independently developed by JW Therapeutics based on a CAR-T cell process platform of Juno Therapeutics (a Bristol Myers Squibb company). Being the first product of JW Therapeutics, Carteyva® has been approved by NMPA for three indications, including the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (r/r LBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy, the treatment of adult patients with follicular lymphoma that is refractory or that relapses within 24 months of second-line or above systemic treatment (r/r FL), and the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (r/r MCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy including bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi), making it the first CAR-T product approved as a Category 1 biologics product in China. Currently, it is the only CAR-T product in China that has been simultaneously included in the National Significant New Drug Development Program, priority review and breakthrough therapy designations.
Forward-Looking Statements
The forward-looking statements are based on the management's expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Significant risks and uncertainties, include those discussed below and more fully described in Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) reports filed by the Company. Unless otherwise noted, the Company is providing this information as of the date it publicized, and expressly disclaims any duty to update information contained in the issues and relevant information, or provide any explanation. For detailed information, please visit the company website: www.jwtherapeutics.com/cn/forward-looking-statements/.