Date: 2014-02-05
Type of information: Product acquisition
Compound: IPH2201 (anti-NKG2A antibody)
Company: Innate Pharma (France) Novo Nordisk (Denmark)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: product acquisition
Action mechanism: IPH2201 (anti-NKG2A) is a first-in-class humanized IgG4 antibody. NKG2A is a checkpoint receptor that inhibits anti-cancer functions of cytotoxic NK and T lymphocytes. NKG2A recognises HLA-E ligands, and by expressing HLA-E cancer cells can protect themselves from killing by CD94/NKG2A-positive NK-, NKT-, and T-cells (a/b and g/d). HLA-E is frequently up-regulated on cancer cells and this occurs in patients with different types of solid tumours or haematological malignancies. In some types of cancers, high-levels of HLA-E appear to confer poorer prognosis. IPH2201 blocks the inhibitory function of CD94/NKG2A, thereby unleashing NK and T cells to kill cancer cells, despite expression of HLA-E. IPH2201 enhances NK and T cell killing of a variety of cancer cell types. Hence, IPH2201 may potentially re-establish a broad anti-tumour response mediated by NK and T cells. Anti-NKG2A mAb may also enhance the cytotoxic potential of other therapeutic antibodies. In an ongoing single- and multiple-dose Phase I dose-escalation safety trial in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, IPH2201 appears to have a safe and well-tolerated profile at all doses tested.
Disease:
Details: * On February 5, 2014, Innate Pharma SA and Novo Nordisk have announced that Innate Pharma has acquired full development and commercialization rights to the anti-NKG2A antibody, a first-in-class immune checkpoint inhibitor ready for Phase II development in oncology from Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk conducted a large Phase I safety trial with anti-NKG2A in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, demonstrating a good safety profile for both iv and sc routes at single and multiple administrations. Novo Nordisk has decided to advance other compounds for further development in inflammation, including anti-NKG2D , currently in Phase II development and generated within the collaboration between Innate Pharma and Novo Nordisk. Herve Brailly, CEO of Innate Pharma noted: \"This is a superb opportunity for Innate Pharma. In addition to lirilumab partnered to Bristol-Myers Squibb and currently in Phase II, we now have a proprietary Phase II ready, first-in-class, immuno-modulating antibody with favourable Phase I safety data and the promise of broad development potential. Our initial clinical development plan is in oncology, and we expect to start the clinical programme before the end of this year. This licence consolidates Innate Pharma\'s leadership in immuno-modulating antibodies targeting the innate immune system\".
IPH2201 was the third therapeutic antibody generated in the Novo Nordisk A/S-Innate Pharma partnership to enter clinical trials and the second targeting a checkpoint receptor (after lirilumab). Under this agreement, Novo Nordisk A/S had licenced anti-NKG2A from Innate Pharma in 2006 as part of a multi-year research and collaboration agreement. That initial license included total milestones of 25 million euros and single-digit royalties.
Financial terms: Novo Nordisk will receive €2 million in cash and 600,000 shares for licencing anti-NKG2A to Innate and be eligible to a total of € 20 million euros in potential registration milestones and single-digit tiered royalties on future sales. The acquisition of the Innate shares is subject to approval by Innate\'s shareholders\' at an extraordinary general meeting on 27 March 2014.
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