Roche has signed a collaboration with Defand Therapeutics, a Chinese biotech, to develop molecular glue medicines. The partnership will focus on discovering and developing multiple drugs for cancer and immune-driven diseases. Financial terms were not disclosed, but a person familiar with the agreement said the total value could approach $1 billion, combining an upfront fee and milestone payments tied to preclinical, clinical, and regulatory goals.
The deal is notable because Roche is not licensing Defand's existing clinical-stage assets; instead, it is enlisting the startup to discover new drugs. That suggests a broader shift in how Western pharma companies engage with Chinese biotech, moving earlier in the pipeline rather than waiting for late-stage results.
Molecular glue therapies are an emerging drug class designed to create stronger connections to problematic proteins so they can be destroyed. Interest has accelerated recently, partly due to data from Revolution Medicines showing its molecular glue treatment nearly doubled survival in pancreatic cancer patients.