The majority-owned subsidiary of YM BioSciences Inc, CIMYM Inc., has partnered with Innogene Kalbiotech Ltd (IGK) of Singapore to expand the development program for its humanized, EGF receptor-targeting monoclonal antibody, nimotuzumab. IGK is the biotech subsidiary of P.T Kalbe Farma Tbk (JK.KLBF), a public company based in Jakarta with revenues exceeding US$300 million.

Terms of the license include an up-front payment of US$1 million, undisclosed milestones and a royalty on sales. The licensed territories include Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and South Africa in addition to a number of other emerging markets. IGK will be responsible for development costs in its territories and also proposes to undertake the registration in its territories of all other indications developed by CIMYM and its licensees elsewhere as well as those of other licensees of CIMAB SA, YM's partner in CIMYM Inc.

"This agreement is another milestone in our strategy to expand nimotuzumab's market potential by partnering with a major regional pharmaceutical company. IGK will initially target head & neck cancer for which it proposes to file INDs in its territories for a study combining nimotuzumab and radiation. Subsequently, additional trials in other cancers are anticipated," said David Allan, Chairman and CEO of YM BioSciences.

Nimotuzumab was recently approved in China based on a 75% improvement in the complete response rate in patients diagnosed with squamous cell nasopharyngeal carcinoma (91% in patients treated with nimotuzumab plus radiotherapy versus 52% for those treated with radiotherapy alone).