Date: 2015-01-27
Type of information: Milestone
Compound: ImmuTune® IMP731 and any other depleting LAG-3 antibodies
Company: Immutep (France) now Prima BioMed (Australia) GSK (UK)
Therapeutic area: Autoimmune diseases
Type agreement: licensing
Action mechanism:
Disease: Autoimmune diseases
Details: Immutep and GSK have signed a licence agreement granting GSK exclusive worldwide rights to ImmuTune® IMP731 and any other antibodies that deplete LAG-3 positive cells. IMP731 has demonstrated potency at low doses in preclinical models of T-cell mediated inflammation and could represent a new therapeutic approach to the treatment of autoimmune disease. These preclinical studies were carried out in collaboration with Bernard Vanhove and Gilles Blancho's teams in the Inserm unit U643 at the University of Nantes, France.
Financial terms: GSK will assume all development responsibility and associated costs for IMP731. Immutep will receive an upfront payment and milestones of up to GBP 64 million ($ 100 million) and is eligible for single-digit, tiered royalties if all objectives are achieved.
Latest news: * On January 27, 2015, Prima BioMed announces the first dosing of a subject by GSK in a Phase 1, first-in-human clinical trial of a novel depleting anti-LAG-3 antibody (GSK2831781) for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Prima’s CEO, Marc Voigt, said the beginning of the Phase 1 trial is a significant milestone for the Company, following its recent acquisition of Immutep, which is now a 100% owned subsidiary of Prima. “The first subject dosing in the Phase 1 trial triggers an undisclosed single digit million dollar financial milestone payment to Immutep from GSK, which licensed the depleting anti-LAG antibody technology from Immutep in 2010. Importantly, the partnership with GSK gives rise to significant further potential milestone payments as well as additional royalties. Under the terms of the 2010 agreement, GSK has responsibility for all development and associated costs for GSK2831781. Immutep received an upfront payment and potential future milestones totalling up to £64 million (approximately A$118 million) and is eligible for single-digit, tiered royalties if all objectives are achieved.” Mr Voigt said.This first milestone payment from GSK also triggers a milestone payment to the sellers of Immutep, as part consideration for the acquisition price.
