Amgen pushes into Asia oncology market with $1.9 billion Five Prime buy
Amgen pushes into Asia oncology market with $1.9 billion Five Prime buy
(Reuters) – Drugmaker Amgen Inc is buying Five Prime Therapeutics for about $1.9 billion and adding a late-stage gastric cancer drug candidate to its line of cancer treatments, the companies said on Thursday.
The deal comes as Amgen looks to expand in the oncology market in Asia-Pacific region, where gastric cancer is more prevalent.
It gained a toehold in China in 2019 through a 20.5% stake in Chinese cancer drugmaker BeiGene Ltd for nearly $3 billion.
Through the latest deal, Amgen will get access to Five Prime’s lead drug candidate, bemarituzumab, which is ready to enter a late-stage study for treating advanced gastric cancer.
“While gastric cancer may be a small market in the United States, it could provide a significant opportunity in Asia”, Truist Securities analyst Robyn Karnauskas said.
Amgen will also get a royalty share on future sales of bemarituzumab in China, where Five Prime has a marketing and development deal with Zai Lab Ltd.
FILE PHOTO: An Amgen sign is seen at the company’s office in South San Francisco, California October 21, 2013. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith/File Photo
The treatment had shown improved overall survival and reduced risk of gastric cancer progression in a mid-stage study.
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