앱클론과 공동으로 혁신항체신약을 개발하고 있는 스웨덴 생명공학기업 Alligator Bioscience사가 현재 개발중인 CD40을 타겟으로 한 암면역치료용 항체를 세계적인 글로벌 제약 기업 Janssen Biotech사에 7,000억 규모의 기술이전계약을 체결하였습니다. 상세 내용은 아래와 같습니다.
[보도 내용 전문]
Alligator Bioscience Announces Collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Innovation for the CD40 Agonistic Immuno-Oncology Antibody ADC-1013
12 August 2015
Alligator Bioscience AB, a privately held Swedish biotech company developing immuno-oncology
antibodies for directed immunotherapy of cancer, today announced that it has entered into a definitive
agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen), one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of
Johnson & Johnson.
Under the agreement, Janssen, will be granted an exclusive, worldwide license to Alligator’s clinical
candidate ADC-1013. The collaboration was facilitated by the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Center in
London. Currently in Phase I clinical trials, ADC-1013 is an agonistic fully human monoclonal antibody
targeting CD40, an immuno-stimulatory receptor found on antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic
cells. Stimulation of CD40 on dendritic cells initiates a process leading to a dramatic increase in T
effector cells attacking the tumor. In addition, a tumor-specific memory is established leading to long
term immunity to the cancer.
Alligator Bioscience will receive an up-front payment plus additional contingent payments upon
reaching certain pre-determined development, regulatory and commercial milestones up to a potential
total of US$700 million. Alligator is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on worldwide net sales upon
successful launch and commercialization. In a simultaneous transaction Johnson & Johnson Innovation -JJDC, Inc. will subscribe for new shares of Alligator common stock.
The closing of the transaction is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act.
Janssen will be responsible for developing ADC-1013 and will assume responsibility for the clinical
studies once the current Phase I dose escalation study is complete. Janssen will have exclusive rights to
develop and commercialize ADC-1013 initially targeting a number of solid tumors and hematological
cancers and will assume responsibility for all additional research, development, manufacturing,
regulatory and commercialization activities.
“This is a key milestone for Alligator Bioscience” said Peter Benson, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
“ADC-1013, based on a promising and positive pre-clinical data package, is now in Phase I clinical trials.
We are very pleased to welcome this collaboration with a leading, global oncology company and look
forward to working together to ensure ADC-1013 will be benefitting patients as soon as possible.”
About Alligator
Alligator Bioscience discovers and develops innovative antibody based immunotherapies for the
treatment of cancer. Alligator Drug Discovery and Development span early research phases with lead
identification up to proof of concept phase I/II clinical studies in cancer patients. In the discovery of
novel antibody based drugs, Alligator uses its proprietary technology platforms FIND® and ALLIGATORGOLD®. FIND® (Fragment INduced Diversity) is an antibody optimization technology based on singlestranded DNA allowing generation of antibodies with significant clinical benefits. ALLIGATOR-GOLD® is a synthetic svFv library containing several billion distinct fully human antibodies. Alligator Bioscience AB
was founded in 2001 and is a privately held company with around 200 shareholders, located at Medicon
Village in Lund, Sweden.
Alligators largest shareholders are the Copenhagen-based venture fund Sunstone Capital and DUBA AB,
a fully-owned subsidiary of Investor AB, as well as some private individual investors.
Alligator Bioscience engaged Colpman Consulting Ltd as lead advisor in the partnering process. Wiggin
and Dana LLP and Setterwalls Advokatbyrå AB acted as legal advisors to the transaction. EY acted as tax
advisors.
