NextCure Expands Oncology Pipeline with $745M Simcere ADC Licensing Agreement
SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 25, 2025 – In a strategic move to deepen its oncology portfolio and join the accelerating global race for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), NextCure has announced a major licensing agreement with China's Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, securing ex-China rights to a novel ADC candidate targeting solid tumors.
The agreement, disclosed earlier this week, grants NextCure access to SIM0505 — an experimental ADC that targets CDH6 and leverages Simcere’s proprietary topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload. In return, Simcere receives an undisclosed upfront payment and is eligible for development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments outside China, totaling up to $745 million.
Strategic Access to High-Potential ADC Technology