Yuhan Corporation is set to receive $15 million in technology fees following the recent approval of its new lung cancer drug, ‘Lekraza (component name: Razertinib),’ in Japan. The drug was approved in combination with Janssen’s targeted anticancer drug ‘Librant (component name: amivantamab)’ for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations.
Approval and Commercialization
On the 20th, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare included Lekraza on the list of drugs eligible for insurance benefits. This decision paves the way for the drug’s commercialization in Japan. The combination therapy of Lasertinib and Librevant was approved in the United States and Europe in August and December of last year, respectively, and in Japan in March this year.
Financial Projections
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare estimates that 6,400 lung cancer patients in Japan will be treated with Lecraza over the next decade, with a potential market size of up to 13 billion yen. Yuhan Corporation will receive a certain percentage of royalties based on local sales in addition to the milestone payment.
Global Expectations
The combination therapy is also expected to be approved in China within the year, potentially leading to a $45 million milestone payment for Yuhan Corporation. Approval in Europe, anticipated in the third quarter of this year, could result in a $30 million milestone payment.
The news highlights the growing global collaboration in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in the development and commercialization of targeted therapies for lung cancer. Yuhan Corporation’s partnership with Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen demonstrates the potential for significant financial returns through successful technology export and collaboration.
