AstraZeneca has entered into a new global development and commercialization agreement with Daiichi Sankyo Company, for DS-1062, Daiichi Sankyo’s trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2)-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC) and potential new medicine for the treatment of multiple tumour types.

DS-1062 is currently in development for the treatment of multiple tumours that commonly express the cell-surface glycoprotein TROP2. Among them, TROP2 is overexpressed in the majority of non-small cell lung cancers1 and breast cancers,2,3 tumour types that have long been a strategic focus for AstraZeneca. This collaboration reflects AstraZeneca’s strategy to invest in antibody drug conjugates as a class, the innovative nature of the technology and the successful existing collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo.

Significant potential

“We see significant potential in this antibody drug conjugate in lung as well as in breast and other cancers that commonly express TROP2. We are delighted to enter this new collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo and to build on the successful launch of Enhertu to further expand our pipeline and leadership in Oncology. We now have six potential blockbusters in Oncology with more to come in our early and late pipelines,” says Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca.

Using Daiichi Sankyo’s DXd ADC technology, DS-1062 is designed to deliver chemotherapy selectively to cancer cells and to reduce systemic exposure. A comprehensive development programme with DS-1062 is planned globally.

Photo of Pascal Soriot: AstraZeneca