LAEKNA-B (02105) rose more than 6%, with a gain of 4.92% at the time of writing, trading at HK$17.27 and a turnover of HK$32.15 million. On November 12, LAEKNA announced the licensing of its breast cancer candidate drug LAE002 (afuresertib) to Qilu Pharmaceutical for the Chinese market, with a total deal value of up to RMB 2.045 billion. In addition to an upfront payment, LAEKNA will receive tiered royalties of 10%-20% on sales, ensuring robust funding for future R&D. This transaction marks one of the largest licensing deals in China's biopharma sector this year.
LAE002 is a potent AKT inhibitor. In the HR+/HER2- breast cancer indication, its global development progress is second only to AstraZeneca's Capivasertib. Industry analysts project LAE002's peak sales in China could hit RMB 2 billion, while its global performance may mirror Capivasertib—expected to generate $700-800 million this year, with peak sales potentially exceeding $1-2 billion.
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