Astellas inks $1.7B collaboration to push Vir’s PSMA-targeted T-cell engager
Astellas is partnering with Vir Biotechnology in a $1.7 billion deal to advance VIR-5500, Vir’s PSMAxCD3 T-cell engager, leveraging Vir’s PRO-XTEN dual-masking tech; Astellas pays $335 million upfront (cash, equity, milestones) with potential up to $1.37 billion in milestones, and a 60-40 development-cost split, plus a U.S. co-promotion option and non-U.S. commercialization by Astellas. The alliance aims for phase 3 in 2027 with expanded early-lines; ASCO GU data show encouraging PSA reductions and a 45% objective response rate in evaluable patients, with a manageable safety profile (mostly grade 1 CRS) at the go-forward dose.
