On January 5, 2026, AbbVie entered into a licensing option agreement with China-based Zejing Biopharmaceutical to advance the global development of alveltamig (ZG006), a clinical-stage oncology asset.
Mechanism and therapeutic focus Alveltamig is a multi-specific T-cell engager designed to target tumors expressing the Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3).
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Target profile: DLL3 is highly expressed in over 70% of small cell lung cancers and aggressive neuroendocrine tumors, while remaining largely absent in healthy adult tissues, making it an ideal therapeutic target.
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Clinical status: The drug is currently undergoing Phase I/II clinical trials to investigate its safety, tolerability, and efficacy in patients with advanced malignancies.
Financial structure of the deal The partnership includes significant financial commitments:
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Upfront payment: AbbVie will provide an initial $100 million to Zejing.
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Milestones and options: Upon exercising the license option, AbbVie will pay an additional $60 million in near-term fees. The total deal value, including development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, could exceed $1.07 billion.
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Market rights: AbbVie secures global rights for development and commercialization, whereas Zejing retains all rights within Mainland China.
This collaboration underscores the growing industry interest in DLL3-targeted therapies, a field that has gained significant momentum following recent regulatory milestones for similar immunotherapies.
Source: https://www.bioxconomy.com/partnering/zejing-s-dll3-cancer-drug-goes-global-with-abbvie-co-sign