ReutersMon, June 8, 2026 at 7:50 AM UTC

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Swiss drugmaker Roche is seen at its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

ZURICH, June 8 (Reuters) – Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche has entered an exclusive licensing ‌and collaboration agreement with Nurix Therapeutics ‌of up to $2.3 billion, the company said on Monday.

• ​The deal focuses on blood cancer drug bexobrutideg, which degrades targeted proteins and is planned to enter a phase III clinical trial ‌initiation for chronic ⁠lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in the summer

• Nurix will receive $700 million upfront, with ⁠possible payouts for development, regulatory and sales milestones

• “We believe bexobrutideg could represent a major ​leap forward ​in the fight ​against complex blood cancers ‌and other diseases,” Levi Garraway, Roche chief medical officer and head of global product development said

• The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026

• ‌Development costs for the drug ​will be covered 60% ​by Roche ​and 40% by Nurix

• The companies ‌will co-commercialise the drug ​in the ​United States, where they will split the profits and losses equally, while Roche will ​commercialise outside ‌of the U.S., paying Nurix royalties

(Reporting ​by Marleen Kaesebier and Oliver Hirt, ​Editing by Friederike Heine)