(L-R) Anthony Williams and Goh Kee Chuan, S*BIO scientists and project leaders working on the SB1518 compound

S*BIO Pte Ltd, Singapore's first fully integrated oncology drug discovery and development company, has entered into a Development Collaboration and Option & License Agreement with Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to develop and commercialise S*BIO's novel JAK2 (Janus Kinase 2) inhibitors - SB1518 and SB1578 - for the North America and Europe markets. Under the terms of the agreement, S*BIO is eligible to receive up to S$828 million (US$550 million) in payments.

JAK2 inhibitors are implicated across a broad range of difficult-to-treat illnesses including cancer and autoimmune diseases, and one of these, the SB1518 has been granted the orphan drug designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The incentives under this programme include tax credits for clinical research towards marketing approval, and seven years of marketing exclusivity. SB1518 is presently being tested in patients with bone marrow and blood disorders at various global clinical trial sites.

In addition, S*BIO has sealed a second US licensing deal with California-based Tragara Pharmaceuticals Inc., to develop and commercialise its novel, orally available, multi-kinase inhibitor SB1317, for the treatment of blood cancers. Under the terms of the agreement, S*BIO is eligible to receive up to S$169 million (US$112.5 million) in payments.