Date: 2017-05-31
Type of information: Licensing agreement
Compound: binimetinib and encorafenib
Company: Array BioPharma (USA - CO) Ono Pharmaceutical (Japan)
Therapeutic area:
Type agreement: licensing, development, commercialisation
Action mechanism: kinase inhibitor/RAF kinase inhibitor/MEK (MAP kinase) inhibitor. The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway regulates several key cellular activities including proliferation, differentiation, migration, survival and angiogenesis. Inappropriate activation of proteins in this pathway has been shown to occur in many cancers, such as non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, colorectal, ovarian and thyroid cancers. Binimetinib is a small molecule MEK inhibitor and encorafenib is a small molecule BRAF inhibitor, both of which target key enzymes in this pathway. Array BioPharma is the owner of binimetinib and encorafenib. Pierre Fabre licensed commercial rights to binimetinib and encorafenib for Europe and other global markets from Array in December 2015.
Disease:
Details: • On May 31, 2017, Array BioPharma and Ono Pharmaceutical announced a license, development and commercialization partnership for Array's late-stage novel oncology compounds, binimetinib and encorafenib. As a result of this agreement, Ono will receive rights to develop and commercialize binimetinib and encorafenib in Japan and South Korea. Binimetinib, a MEK inhibitor, and encorafenib, a BRAF inhibitor, are currently in two global Phase 3 trials, for the treatment of patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma (COLUMBUS) and BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer (BEACON CRC).
Financial terms: Under the terms of the agreement, Array will receive an upfront payment of $31.6 million (¥3.5 billion) and retains exclusive commercialization rights for binimetinib and encorafenib in the United States, Canada and Israel. Array is entitled to receive up to an additional $156 million (¥17.3 billion) if certain development and commercial milestones are achieved. A portion of these milestones is related to the Phase 3 BEACON CRC trial. In addition, Array will be eligible for robust, tiered, double-digit royalties based on product sales in Japan and South Korea. Ono will obtain the right to conduct clinical trials of binimetinib and encorafenib in Japan and South Korea, as well as participate in all future global development of binimetinib and encorafenib by contributing 12% of those future costs.
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