GSK has finalized a deal to acquire the US-based cancer biotechnology company Nuvalent for more than $10 billion (£8 billion). This strategic move enables GSK to enhance its oncology portfolio with two promising late-stage lung cancer therapies: zidesamtinib and neladalkib. Both therapies are on fast-tracked regulatory paths with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and a ruling on zidesamtinib’s approval is expected in September.
In 2014, GSK had moved away from oncology drug development, divesting its portfolio to Novartis to lessen its dependence on high-risk R&D fields. Instead, GSK concentrated on areas where it already possessed considerable expertise, such as respiratory medicine, HIV, vaccines, and consumer healthcare. At that point, Roche, strengthened by its 2009 acquisition of Genentech, held a strong position in the oncology market with its cancer-targeting monoclonal antibody treatments, which produced several blockbuster products.
As the oncology pharmaceutical landscape progressed, new treatments emerged, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors that utilized patients’ immune systems to attack cancer cells. These advancements, introduced by competitors such as Merck & Co and Bristol-Myers Squibb, began to erode Roche’s market supremacy.
Pharmaceutical companies frequently revise their strategies based on various aspects, including patent expirations and the successes of competitors. Roche has also recently adapted its cancer strategy and is exploring the obesity treatment space through a $5.3 billion licensing deal with Danish biotech Zealand Pharma.
GSK’s return to cancer drug development was highlighted by its $5 billion acquisition of Tesaro in 2019, which came with the checkpoint inhibitor antibody Jemperli (dostarlimab) for endometrial cancer. After this acquisition, GSK broadened its oncology pipeline to incorporate antibody-drug conjugates and checkpoint inhibitor antibodies.
The purchase of Nuvalent will equip GSK with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, a successful class of medications that impede cancer growth by disrupting cell signaling pathways. With over 100 approved kinase inhibitor drugs in the US, GSK is optimistic that Nuvalent’s drug candidates, which are already advanced in clinical and regulatory processes, will prove to be a valuable enhancement to their portfolio.