Date: 2017-07-27
Type of information: Exercise of an option agreement
Compound: Cell-Penetrating Alphabodies (CPABs)
Company: Complix (Belgium) Merck&Co (USA - NJ)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: R&D - research
Action mechanism:
- protein. Cell-Penetrating Alphabodies (CPABs) are a class of small proteins engineered to bind to a variety antigens. Data available show that CPABs have the potential to address a wide range of disease targets, including intracellular targets that are difficult for current therapies to reach. To date, Complix has shown that CPABs have the unique ability to enter tumor cells effectively and selectively modulate intracellular protein-to-protein interactions, which play a key role in the initiation and progression of a broad range of cancers. CPABs are also able to enter many different types of tumor cells and remain stable within the tumor tissue for up to 24 hours post administration.
Data available show that CPABs have the potential to address a wide range of disease targets, including intracellular targets that are difficult for current therapies to reach. To date, Complix has shown that CPABs have the unique ability to enter tumor cells effectively and selectively modulate intracellular protein-to-protein interactions, which play a key role in the initiation and progression of a broad range of cancers. CPABs are also able to enter many different types of tumor cells and remain stable within the tumor tissue for up to 24 hours post administration.
Disease:
Details:
- • On January 6 2015, Complix, a biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of transformative protein therapeutics, called Alphabodies™, for the treatment of cancer and severe autoimmune diseases, announced it has entered into a strategic drug discovery collaboration with Merck & Co, to develop Cell-Penetrating Alphabodies (CPABs) for the treatment of cancer. Under the terms of the agreement, Complix will use its proprietary Alphabody platform to deliver CPABs against up to two intracellular cancer targets.
Financial terms:
- Merck&Co will fund related research activities and has an option to the exclusive, worldwide rights for any of the resulting compounds. Complix is entitled to receive an upfront payment and potential development milestones of up to $280 million, as well as tiered royalties.
Latest news: • On July 27, 2017, Complix announced that Merck & Co has exercised its option for a second cancer target program, which triggers an option fee payment to Complix. Under the terms of the agreement, Complix has been utilizing its proprietary Alphabody platform to deliver Cell Penetrating Alphabodies (CPABs) against the first of two intracellular cancer targets (with the second target under option). This research work has been funded by MSD, which has an option to the exclusive worldwide rights for any of the resulting candidates. On the basis of results obtained in the first target program MSD has now decided to exercise its option on the second target.
Is general: Yes
