Date: 2014-04-22
Type of information: Exercise of an option agreement
Compound: interleukin-1 (IL-1)
Company: Swedish Orphan Biovitrum - SOBI (Sweden) - Affibody (Sweden)
Therapeutic area: Inflammatory diseases
Type agreement: R&D licensing
Action mechanism: protein. The interleukin-1 family is a group of pro-inflammatory cytokines that play a central role in the regulation of immune responses in the human body. Via binding to cellular IL-1 receptors they participate in acute and chronic inflammatory reactions. In addition, the IL-1 system is also involved in several other biological functions, such as metabolic and hematopoietic activities. IL-1 has emerged as therapeutic target for an expanding number of auto-inflammatory diseases where inhibition of IL-1 activity may form the basis for novel treatments.
Disease: inflammatory diseases where Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is implicated
Details: On July 10, 2012, Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) has signed a research collaboration and option agreement with Affibody for the discovery and development of novel treatments for inflammatory diseases where Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is implicated.
The research will be based on Affibody's proprietary technology platforms Affibody® molecules and Albumod™ includes up to five different targets within the IL-1 field. All targets are key proteins involved in the regulation of human immune and inflammatory processes. One project is a lead candidate for the inhibition of IL-1 beta at the preclinical phase, and the others are in discovery.
IL-1 segment offers a good fit with Sobi's commercial focus with Kineret® in the Inflammation therapeutic area, and with the Company's strategic biologics development capabilities. The research will be carried out by both companies and will be led by a joint steering committee.
Affibody will have responsibility through the discovery phase, and Sobi for clinical development. Each company will bear their own costs. The agreement follows an earlier collaboration between the companies regarding a biological candidate which has recently been moved into IND-enabling studies.
Financial terms: The agreement covers an initial two-year period during which Sobi has an option to enter into a licensing agreement with worldwide exclusive rights to any or all of the development projects. The agreement includes a payment by Sobi in the amount of SEK 12 M (€1.4 million) , of which SEK 2.5 M at signing and the remaining part to be paid over a 21-months period. In addition, the licensing agreement includes potential future milestones and royalty after the two year period.
Latest news: * On April 22, 2016, Swedish Orphan Biovitrum announced that it has exercised its option to sign a licensing agreement with Affibody for the development of novel treatments for inflammatory diseases where interleukin-1 (IL-1) is involved. In 2012, Sobi signed a research collaboration agreement with Affibody, with an option to enter into exclusive licensing arrangements within IL-1. The research, which has been based on Affibody's proprietary technology, focuses on key proteins involved in the regulation of human immune and inflammatory processes.