Zion Pharma Announces Global Agreement with Roche to Develop and Commercialize a Blood Brain Barrier Penetrant Oral HER2 Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
9.5.2023 09:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Zion Pharma Limited, a Chinese biotechnology company focused on the development of brain-penetrable compounds, today announced that Roche has acquired the global rights to Zion’s lead program, ZN-A-1041. ZN-A-1041 is an orally administered selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2). ZN-A-1041 was designed to be blood-brain-barrier-penetrant, and has the potential to treat or prevent the onset of brain metastases in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Up to 50% of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer will develop brain metastasis during the course of the disease.
"Our agreement with Roche is the culmination of a tremendous team effort to deliver a potentially best-in-class therapy for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, particularly in the field of brain metastasis by virtue of the high blood-brain barrier permeability of this asset,” stated Zack Cheng, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Zion Pharma Limited. “Within five years, we have gone from company formation to first-in-human, to finding a partner in Roche, who has the resources and expertise to bring ZN-A-1041 to patients with few other therapeutic options,” Dr. Cheng continued.
Dr. Ding Zhou, Ph.D., CSO and Co-Founder of Zion Pharma Limited added, “We are pleased that Roche recognizes the potential of our asset for advancing the standard of care with regards to brain penetrable compounds in HER2-positive breast cancer.”
“We are excited to enter this partnership with Zion to further develop this innovative treatment option for people with HER2-positive breast cancer. This partnership builds on Roche’s legacy and expertise in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer and supports our pursuit of advancing science by combining external innovation with our in-house capabilities to address areas of high unmet patient needs,” said James Sabry, Global Head of Pharma Partnering.
After a transition period, Roche will be responsible for the further development, manufacturing, and commercialization of ZN-A-1041 globally. Zion will receive up to $70 million USD in upfront and near-term milestone payments pending achievement of certain milestone events. Zion will also be eligible for up to $610 million USD in additional payments following achievement of certain development, regulatory, and sales-based milestone events by ZN-A-1041, as well as tiered royalties on sales.
About ZN-A-1041
ZN-A-1041 is an orally administered selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2). ZN-A-1041 was designed to be blood-brain-barrier-penetrant. The ongoing Phase 1 trial is being conducted at multiple sites in the U.S. and China. Additional details will be presented at the poster sessions during the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in June 2023.
About Zion Pharma Limited
Zion Pharma is a private, clinical stage biotech company focused on the development of novel, small molecule, anti-tumoral agents. Founded in 2018, the company’s research headquarters are in Suzhou with additional research operations in Shanghai. The company is applying an innovative drug discovery approach, capitalizing on its DMPK expertise, to develop a pipeline of proprietary first-in-class/best-in-class compounds focused on therapeutic targets which drive tumor inhibition, including ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), Kirsten RAt Sarcoma (KRAS G12D) and SMARCA2 (BRM). Additional information about Zion Pharma is available at www.zionpharma.com.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005468/en/
Contact information
For media and partnership inquiries:
J. Michael French
SVP, Corporate Development
michael.french@zionpharma.com
+1.703.338.1972
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
ProcureTEX Returns for Its Second Year, Bringing AI and Best-of-Breed Procurement Technology to Amsterdam14.10.2026 19:26:00 EEST | Press release
ProcureTEX, the community-driven event for best-of-breed procurement technology, returns for its second year on November 3, 2026, at Circa in Amsterdam. Following its London debut in 2025, the event sharpens its focus on how AI is reshaping procurement. It will bring together over 250 procurement leaders and digital transformation teams from large enterprises, with vetted best-of-breed technology providers, to see AI agents and interoperable tools working together on real enterprise challenges. Co-founded by Beroe, Keelvar and Zip, the event is built on the belief that the future of procurement isn’t a monolithic all-in-one suite, but an ecosystem of best-of-breed tools working together. It is designed for procurement and enterprise leaders seeking scalable, modern solutions, whether they’re driving transformation, frustrated with outdated tools, or looking to connect with peers solving similar problems and putting AI to work. Renowned technology analyst and former Andreessen Horowitz
eM Client 11 Launches: A European Outlook Alternative Bringing AI Freedom, Digital Sovereignty, and Next-Generation Productivity14.10.2026 19:16:00 EEST | Press release
eM Client, the European developer of the popular email and productivity application used by millions worldwide, today announced the release of eM Client 11, its most significant update yet. The new version introduces advanced AI capabilities, and major productivity improvements, strengthening its position as an independent alternative to Microsoft Outlook. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014945464/en/ eM Client 11 main window AI Without Vendor Lock-In eM Client 11 introduces a powerful AI Assistant that enables users to search, summarize, organize, and manage emails using natural language. Additional features include personalized AI writing, context-aware quick replies, automatic task and event detection, and AI-powered email rules. Unlike traditional AI integrations, eM Client 11 supports Bring Your Own Key (BYOK), allowing organizations to connect compatible AI providers and models of their choice. The re
iQmetrix and Stratus HR Partner to Give Wireless Retailers a Complete, Outsourced HR Department14.10.2026 18:15:00 EEST | Press release
Stratus HR, a full-service human resources outsourcing provider, today announced a partnership with iQmetrix, the Intelligent Commerce Operating System for telecom. As a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), Stratus HR becomes the complete, outsourced HR partner for wireless retailers on iQmetrix – payroll, benefits, compliance, and on-call HR experts – so retail teams stay focused on selling and serving customers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014178512/en/ Fully integrated with iQmetrix, Stratus HR’s custom-built technology connects the employee lifecycle to the store: new hires, terminations, rehires, position moves, and security-role updates flow straight into the point of sale (POS), while hours flow from the retailer’s iQmetrix system into payroll – eliminating double entry and pay errors, so every paycheck is accurate and every new hire hits the floor faster. Frontline teams get enterprise-leve
New Study Brings Ketogenic Therapy for Bipolar Disorder Directly to Rural Alabama Homes14.10.2026 18:00:00 EEST | Press release
Baszucki Group today announced funding for a clinical study to examine the impact of ketogenic therapy on people living with bipolar disorder in rural Central Alabama. This study, led by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine Montgomery Regional Campus, will partner with Heart of Alabama Food Bank (HAFB), sourcing Alabama-raised meats and produce to introduce metabolic psychiatry to a region characterized by a high prevalence of serious mental illness and severe shortages in psychiatric care. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014955753/en/ A new study led by Will Rutland of UAB Montgomery and funded by Baszucki Group aims to improve access to psychiatric treatment in rural areas. By partnering with a local food bank, researchers will evaluate both the psychiatric and metabolic effects of ketogenic therapy alongside existing treatment modalities for people with bipol
Ant International Obtains Key Licenses from the Central Bank of the UAE to Support Digital Payments in the AI Era14.10.2026 17:32:00 EEST | Press release
Ant International, a leading global provider of digital payments and financial technology, has secured a Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes (Category II) (RPSCS) license and Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), aligning with the UAE’s broader agenda for innovation and digital transformation in the financial sector. “The RPSCS and SVF licenses mark a crucial milestone in Ant International’s efforts to support the UAE’s fintech ecosystem, aligning with the nation’s ‘We are UAE 2031’ digitalisation and fintech strategy,” said Leiming Chen, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President of Ant International. “In accordance with the applicable CBUAE regulatory framework, we look forward to launching AI-powered global payment and account solutions to make cross-border payments and financial management more accessible." Obtaining the RPSCS license is an important step towards Antom, a leading merchant payment and digitisation services p
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom