Zhong Guo Jing Ying Bao·2026-01-12 14:36Core Viewpoint - The termination of the licensing and collaboration agreement between Yiming Anke (01541.HK) and Instil Bio (TIL.US) for the development of two cancer drugs, IMM2510 and IMM27M, is a significant setback for Yiming Anke, which had potential revenues exceeding $2 billion from this deal [2][3][5]. Group 1: Agreement Details - The collaboration agreement, established in August 2024, allowed Yiming Anke to retain rights in Greater China while granting Axion Bio exclusive global development and commercialization rights [2][3]. - Yiming Anke received a total of $35 million in payments from the collaboration, including a $5 million upfront payment and milestone payments [3][5]. - The agreement was initially seen as a major milestone for Yiming Anke's international strategy, particularly as PD-(L)1/VEGF dual antibodies were highly sought after in the international business development market [3][5]. Group 2: Reasons for Termination - The primary reason for the termination was the slow progress of clinical trials, with only three patients enrolled in the U.S. clinical trial as of January 2026, which was significantly below expectations [3][4]. - Yiming Anke's founder indicated that the choice of collaboration partner had limitations, contributing to the slow development pace [4][5]. Group 3: Future Strategy and Market Reaction - Following the termination, Yiming Anke plans to regain control over the global rights to the two drugs, which may accelerate their development pace [5][6]. - The market reacted negatively to the news, with Instil Bio's stock price dropping over 50% following the announcement [2]. - Yiming Anke aims to pursue new business development opportunities with multinational companies and is considering partnerships with mid-sized firms for further development [6].