Date: 2015-06-23
Type of information: Milestone
Compound: Accurin™
Company: AstraZeneca (UK) BIND Therapeutics (USA - MA)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: R&D
development
commercialisation
Action mechanism: Accurins™ are polymeric nanoparticles that incorporate a therapeutic payload and are designed to have prolonged circulation within the bloodstream, enable targeting of the diseased tissue or cells, and provide for the controlled and timely release of the therapeutic payload. Tissue targeting is achieved by engineering the physical and chemical properties—size, shape and surface properties—of the Accurin to allow it to escape through gaps in the blood vessels surrounding tumors and other disease sites. Cellular targeting is achieved using proprietary targeting ligands on the surface of the Accurin that binds to specific cell surfaces or tissue markers. Accurins are designed with specific polymers that provide for the controlled and timely release of the therapeutic payload. Upon administration, the therapeutic payload begins to diffuse through the polymeric matrix. Subsequently, the polymer breaks down to lactic acid, a compound naturally found in the body. If the therapeutic payload releases before the Accurins accumulate at the disease site, the Accurins will be unable to effectively increase drug concentration in the diseased tissue and the anticipated therapeutic impact will be minimized or lost. Similarly, if the therapeutic payload is not released, or releases too slowly, the anticipated therapeutic impact will be lost or minimized and new toxicities may be created. By combining prolonged circulation, triple targeting and controlled and timely release of the therapeutic payload, Accurins have the potential to significantly increase the net clinical benefit associated with the therapeutic payload and result in efficacy and safety currently not achievable through other therapeutic modalities.
Disease: undisclosed cancer
Details: * On April 22, 2013, AstraZeneca and BIND Therapeutics have announced that they have entered into a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialise an Accurin™, a targeted and programmable cancer nanomedicine from BIND’s Medicinal Nanoengineering platform, based on a molecularly targeted kinase inhibitor developed and owned by AstraZeneca. The collaboration is based on emerging data suggesting that nanomedicines like Accurins selectively accumulate in diseased tissues and cells, leading to higher drug concentrations at the site of the tumour and reduced exposure to healthy tissues.Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will work together to complete Investigational New Drug-enabling studies of the lead Accurin, identified from a previously-completed feasibility programme. AstraZeneca will then have exclusive development and commercialisation rights, while BIND will lead manufacturing during the development phase.
Financial terms: BIND could receive upfront and pre-approval milestone payments totaling $69 million, and more than $130 million in regulatory and sales milestones and other payments as well as tiered single to double-digit royalties on future sales.
Latest news: * On November 18, 2015, Bind Therapeutics announced that AstraZeneca has initiated patient dosing in a phase 1 clinical trial of the Accurin AZD2811 drug candidate in solid tumors. In addition to earning a $4.0 million milestone payment for the first patient dosed in a phase 1 clinical trial, Bind received an upfront payment of $4.0 million in 2013 and achieved a $1.0 million development milestone in March 2015. * On June 23, 2015, Bind Therapeutics announced that the FDA has authorized the use of AstraZeneca's Accurin AZD2811 in clinical trials under an investigational new drug (IND) application. Bind will earn a $4 million milestone payment upon first dosing a patient in a phase 1 clinical trial with AZD2811.
