Genentech pays $45M upfront to DualityBio for ADC platform targeting resistant cancers

Genentech has agreed to pay DualityBio $45 million upfront for rights to its antibody‑drug conjugate (ADC) technology, with the agreement offering more than $1 billion in potential milestone payments. The partnership focuses on DualityBio’s Dupac payload platform, which is designed to remain effective in tumors that have become resistant to existing topoisomerase‑based ADCs.

Current ADCs such as AstraZeneca’s Enhertu and Gilead’s Trodelvy are moving into earlier lines of therapy, creating a growing need for treatments that work after patients progress on these drugs. Dupac payloads aim to fill that gap by retaining activity where other ADCs lose effectiveness.

Under the deal, DualityBio will create and develop ADC candidates using the Dupac payloads and advance them into early clinical trials, taking advantage of lower cost and faster timelines in China. After a phase 1a study, Genentech will assume full responsibility for further development and commercialization.