Roche and Nurix Therapeutics Partner to Advance BTK Degrader Bexobrutideg
Monday, June 08, 2026
Roche has entered into an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement with Nurix Therapeutics to co-develop and co-commercialise bexobrutideg (NX-5948), an investigational Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) degrader.
Bexobrutideg is an investigational, orally available, brain-penetrant BTK degrader being evaluated for relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies, as well as potential applications in immunology and neurology. Unlike conventional BTK inhibitors that block enzyme activity, the therapy promotes the degradation of the BTK protein, offering a novel approach to treatment.
CLL is one of the most common forms of leukaemia in adults and often requires long-term disease management. The collaboration also supports future exploration of bexobrutideg in conditions such as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and multiple sclerosis (MS), where BTK signalling is believed to play an important role.
The partnership will focus on the development of the therapy across malignant haematology, immunology, and neurology indications.
The addition of bexobrutideg strengthens Roche’s haematology pipeline while expanding its presence in immunology and neurology. The oral BTK degrader is currently being developed for B-cell malignancies and is expected to enter Phase III clinical trials in the summer of 2026 for second-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).
Despite progress with existing BTK inhibitors, many patients with CLL eventually experience disease progression due to treatment resistance, incomplete pathway suppression, or intolerance. Treatment options remain limited for patients whose disease relapses after current therapies.
BTK-targeting therapies continue to play a major role in the non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and CLL markets. The combined market is projected to reach approximately USD 41 billion by 2031, with BTK inhibitors expected to remain the leading therapeutic class. The CLL market alone is forecast to grow significantly over the next decade.
Clinical data generated to date suggests that bexobrutideg may offer improved efficacy and tolerability compared with currently available BTK inhibitors. The therapy also has the potential to overcome resistance mechanisms associated with existing treatments.
Beyond haematological cancers, BTK is an important target in several immune-mediated and neurological disorders. Bexobrutideg is designed to remove the BTK protein from cells, eliminating both its kinase activity and scaffolding functions. This mechanism may provide broader and more durable therapeutic benefits across multiple disease areas.
Under the terms of the agreement, Nurix will receive an upfront payment of USD 700 million and may receive additional development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments, bringing the total potential value of the deal to USD 2.3 billion. Development costs will be shared, with Roche covering 60% and Nurix 40%.
The companies will jointly commercialise bexobrutideg in the United States and equally share profits and losses. Outside the US, Roche will hold commercialisation rights, while Nurix will receive tiered royalties.
The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.
The companies expect the deal to close during the third quarter of 2026.
Source: roche.com
