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On June 16, 2025, Simcere Zaiming, an innovative oncology-focused subsidiary of Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (HKEX: 2096), announced a strategic partnership with the U.S. biopharmaceutical company NextCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTC). The partnership aims to jointly develop a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting CDH6, named SIM0505. The collaboration includes licensing NextCure to use Simcere Zaiming’s proprietary linker and TOPOi payload from its ADC technology platform for the development of a preclinical stage novel target ADC. Simcere Zaiming will hold the rights to this novel target ADC in the Greater China region. Additionally, a subsidiary of Simcere Zaiming has acquired a portion of NextCure’s equity.
According to the terms, Simcere Zaiming will receive up to USD 745 million in payments related to the potential development stages of the SIM0505 project. This includes upfront payments, development and sales milestone payments, and additional tiered royalties based on net sales of the product outside the Greater China region, reaching up to double digits.
JunHe was entrusted by Simcere Zaiming to review, revise and negotiate the project agreement. Demonstrating its integrated advantages, JunHe’s New York and Hong Kong offices assisted in the issuance of the shares by the listed company and the related SEC filing work. JunHe’s data compliance team also assisted in completing the data compliance work. Throughout this engagement, JunHe earned the client’s trust and recognition with its consistently efficient, rigorous work style and meticulous, dedicated service attitude.
The lead partner for this transaction was Mr. ZHAO, Hao (Gerry) , and Ms. LOU, Lan was the main lawyer handling the listed company’s equity portion. Ms. Qi (Olivia) Lin was the lead lawyer for the SEC-related filing work, and Ms. DONG, Xiao (Marissa) and Ms. GUO, Jinghe lead the data compliance work.