A Landmark Deal in Oncology: Pfizer's $6 Billion Bet on 3SBio's PD-1/VEGF Bispecific Antibody

• In one of the most significant oncology licensing deals of 2025 to date, Pfizer has secured global rights (excluding mainland China) to 3SBio's promising PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, SSGJ-707, for a staggering $1.25 billion upfront payment with potential milestone payments reaching $4.8 billion.

• This deal, announced today May 20, 2025, represents a major strategic move in the competitive immuno-oncology landscape.

• The industry is particularly excited about the therapeutic/market potential of the novel MOA of PD-1×VEGF bispecific antibodies for a wide range of patients with solid tumors after the success of Akesobio's AK112 (Ivonescimab, SMT112) in its HARMONi-2 study.

• By simultaneously targeting both immune checkpoint inhibition (PD-1) and angiogenesis pathways (VEGF), these molecules present a compelling dual approach to cancer treatment that offers better tolerability than the combination of anti-PD-1 mAb with VEGFR TKIs and much improved efficacy compared to anti-PD-1 mAb alone.

• This innovative mechanism also could potentially overcome resistance mechanisms seen with single-target therapies while providing a more favorable safety profile and enhanced therapeutic benefit for patients.

• SSGJ-707, which has already demonstrated promising efficacy and safety data in early clinical trials for non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and gynecological tumors, exemplifies this innovative approach.

• China NMPA has granted breakthrough therapy designation to SSGJ-707 last month for the treatment of first-line PD-L1 positive NSCLC based on the initial monotherapy results, and cleared its Phase 3 study design in this disease setting.

• As multiple biopharmaceutical companies advance different format of PD-1×VEGF bispecific antibodies through their pipelines, the oncology community eagerly awaits head-to-head clinical comparison data to demonstrate which candidate offers superior efficacy and safety profiles across various tumor types.

• This deal not only validates 3SBio's development capabilities but also highlights the industry's growing confidence in bispecific antibodies as a next-generation treatment modality with blockbuster potential in oncology.

• As Pfizer leverages its global development and commercialization expertise, SSGJ-707 could potentially become a cornerstone therapy in cancer treatment paradigms worldwide.

[1], 3SBIO PR, as of May20, 2025.
[2], Pfizer PR, as of May20, 2025.