Bayer and Kumquat Biosciences Sign Global Agreement to Develop KRAS G12D Inhibitor for Cancer Treatment
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Bayer has entered into an exclusive worldwide licence and collaboration with Kumquat Biosciences Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company specialising in the KRAS pathway, to develop and commercialise Kumquat’s KRAS G12D inhibitor.
Under the arrangement, Kumquat will manage the initiation and completion of the Phase Ia clinical trial, while Bayer will take responsibility for later-stage development and commercialisation. Kumquat secured clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2025 to begin clinical testing of the investigational treatment.
The agreement includes potential payments to Kumquat of up to US$1.3 billion, covering upfront, clinical and commercial milestones, along with tiered royalties on global sales. Kumquat also retains the right to negotiate for profit-and-loss sharing in the United States.
KRAS mutations are changes in a gene that drive cancer growth and are recognised as key therapeutic targets. The KRAS G12D mutation is most common in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), affecting around 37 per cent of cases, and also occurs in 13 per cent of colorectal cancers and 4 per cent of non-small cell lung cancers. PDAC, the most common form of pancreatic cancer, accounts for about 85 per cent of cases and remains one of the most difficult to treat, with limited options beyond chemotherapy. The five-year survival rate is below 10 per cent. Globally, pancreatic cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death, and its incidence is projected to rise by more than 95 per cent by 2050, reaching nearly one million new cases annually.
The KRAS G12D inhibitor aims to target a significant cancer signalling pathway associated with tumour growth and survival. The collaboration is expected to advance this investigational treatment and potentially offer a new option for patients with cancers driven by the KRAS G12D mutation, while also supporting the development of Bayer’s broader precision oncology portfolio.
Source: businesswire.com
