Takeda grabs Keros’s Geron challenger

Takeda has spent 2024 quietly striking small deals; the latest will see it license Keros’s anti-activin A fusion protein elritercept, which could challenge Geron’s Rytelo and Bristol Myers Squibb’s Reblozyl in myelodysplastic syndromes. Takeda is paying $200m up front for worldwide rights (excluding China, where Hansoh licensed the project for $20m up front in 2021). Elritercept will soon start the phase 3 Renew trial in anaemia in very low, low, or intermediate-risk MDS patients, both with and without ringed sideroblasts, who’ve failed erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. In the post-ESA population, Reblozyl only has the nod in those with ringed sideroblasts, while Rytelo is indicated regardless of ringed sideroblast status; the latter sold $28m in the third quarter. In elritercept’s phase 2 MDS trial, 56% of patients had an overall erythroid response. Activin A is a member of the TGF-β superfamily; no other projects specifically against this target are in active clinical development, according to OncologyPipeline. There’s plenty going on in the broader TGF-β space, although efforts here have broadly disappointed. The latest deal comes after Takeda’s licensing of Ascentage Pharma’s olverembatinib and Protagonist’s rusfertide, as well as a couple of smaller agreements this year.

Takeda’s 2024 licensing deals

Source: OncologyPipeline.