24th Apr 2015 05:33
SUMMIT (Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC on Friday said its Medimmune Ltd biologics research and development arm has signed deals with a subsidiary of US biotechnology company Celgene Corp and with French biopharmaceutical company Innate Pharma SA.
Celgene International II Sàrl, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celgene, has entered into a strategic collaboration with MedImmune to develop and commercialise an anti-PD-L1 inhibitor, MEDI4736, for hematologic malignancies.
MEDI4736 is a human monoclonal antibody directed against programmed cell death ligand 1 or PD-L1, which helps tumors avoid detection by the immune system. Tumor cells use PD-L1 to turn off the immune system just as it begins to mount a response against them.
MEDI4736 helps turn the immune system back on, allowing it to continue its attack on cancer. About 1.75 million patients globally suffer from blood cancer and many are in need of new treatment options.
Celgene will collaborate with AstraZeneca to develop the anti-PD-L1 antibody MEDI4736 in hematology and make an upfront payment of USD450 million.
Medimmune will also work with Innate Pharma on developing Innate's anti-NKG2A antibody, IPH2201, including in combination with MEDI4736. Currently in Phase II development, IPH2201 is a potential first-in-class humanised IgG4 antibody. NKG2A is a checkpoint receptor that inhibits the anti-cancer functions of Natural Killer and cytotoxic T-cells.
Under the terms of the agreements, AstraZeneca will make an initial payment to Innate of $250 million, which includes the consideration for exclusive global rights to co-develop and commercialise IPH2201 in combination with MEDI4736, as well as access to IPH2201 in monotherapy and other combinations in certain treatment areas.
AstraZeneca will pay a further $100 million prior to initiation of Phase III development, as well as additional regulatory and sales-related milestones. AstraZeneca will book all sales and will pay Innate double-digit royalties on net sales. The arrangement includes the right for Innate to co-promote in Europe for a 50% profit share in the territory.
"We are pleased to collaborate with Innate Pharma to bring this prospective first-in-class treatment to cancer patients, further strengthening our broad immuno-oncology pipeline. We believe that combination therapy in immuno-oncology has the potential to be one of the most effective ways of treating cancer and that by targeting both innate and acquired immunity we have the opportunity to deliver important clinical benefit to patients across a range of cancer," said Astra Chief Executive Pascal Soriot.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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