Sobi licenses lacutamab from Innate Pharma in T-cell lymphoma deal worth up to $580 million
- nuaxia
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
The partnership gives Sobi potential global commercial and development rights to the first-in-class anti-KIR3DL2 antibody while funding Innate’s Phase III programme in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Sobi and Innate Pharma have entered a strategic licensing partnership for lacutamab, with Sobi paying $75 million at closing and Innate eligible for up to a further $505 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestones, plus tiered double-digit royalties.
The agreement enables Innate to initiate the confirmatory Phase III TELLOMAK-3 study while giving Sobi exclusive global commercialisation rights following potential accelerated approval and an option to assume full global development rights after positive Phase III results.
Field | Content |
Alert Type | Deal |
Companies | Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi); Innate Pharma |
Deal Type | Strategic licensing and development partnership |
Asset or Company | Lacutamab |
Therapy Area(s) | Haematology; Oncology; Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma |
Technology or Modality | First-in-class anti-KIR3DL2 monoclonal antibody |
Deal Value | $75 million payable at closing, plus up to $40 million in near-term development milestones related to Sézary syndrome and up to a further $465 million associated with Sobi obtaining full development rights and future regulatory and commercial milestones. Innate is also eligible for tiered double-digit royalties on net sales. The total potential value of up to $580 million is contingent and should not be treated as guaranteed consideration. (PR Newswire) |
Development Stage | Phase III-ready; TELLOMAK-3 confirmatory Phase III study planned |
Geography | Global |
What Happened | On 10 August 2026, Sobi and Innate Pharma announced a strategic partnership covering lacutamab, Innate’s anti-KIR3DL2 antibody for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Innate will conduct the confirmatory Phase III TELLOMAK-3 trial, which is intended to support a potential accelerated approval filing in Sézary syndrome and subsequent full approvals in Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides. Sobi will receive exclusive global commercialisation rights following potential accelerated approval and may assume full global development rights after positive Phase III results. The transaction remains subject to closing conditions, including antitrust clearance. (PR Newswire) |
Why It Matters | The agreement provides the financing and commercial partnership needed to move lacutamab into its pivotal Phase III programme while giving Sobi access to a late-stage rare haematological cancer asset. Lacutamab has already received FDA Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track designations and EMA PRIME designation for relevant CTCL settings, but its future regulatory and commercial potential remains dependent on successful Phase III development and regulatory review. (PR Newswire) |
Supporting Context | Lacutamab is being developed for CTCL, a group of rare non-Hodgkin lymphomas that includes Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides. TELLOMAK-3 will enrol patients with these diseases who have failed at least one previous systemic therapy, with progression-free survival as the primary endpoint. (PR Newswire) |
Strategic Rationale | Sobi gains potential global rights to a differentiated late-stage therapy that fits its rare-disease strategy and commercial infrastructure. Innate secures funding to initiate TELLOMAK-3 while retaining responsibility for the trial and potential future economics through milestones and double-digit royalties. (PR Newswire) |
Potential Impact | Positive TELLOMAK-3 results could allow Sobi to assume full development rights and support regulatory filings across major markets, potentially establishing lacutamab as a new targeted treatment for CTCL. This depends on successful Phase III results and subsequent regulatory approvals. |
Key Takeaway | The partnership provides a route to fund lacutamab’s pivotal Phase III development while giving Sobi potential global rights to a differentiated late-stage therapy for rare T-cell lymphomas. |
What to Watch | Transaction closing and antitrust clearance, initiation of TELLOMAK-3, progress towards a potential accelerated approval filing in Sézary syndrome and whether positive Phase III results trigger Sobi’s option to assume full global development rights. (PR Newswire) |
Primary Source | |
Relevant Date | 10 August 2026 |
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