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Agreements

Date: 2021-05-12

Type of information: Product acquisition

Compound: TMS-007, an investigational drug for acute ischemic stroke

Company: Biogen (USA - MA) TMS Co (Japan)

Therapeutic area: Cerebrovascular diseases - Cardiovascular diseases

Type agreement: product acquisition

Action mechanism: thrombolytic agent. TMS-007 is a small molecule plasminogen activator with a proposed novel mechanism of action associated with breaking down blood clots and potentially inhibiting local inflammation at the site of thrombosis. This unique combination could position TMS-007 as a potential next generation thrombolytic for individuals with acute ischemic stroke with the aim to provide an extended treatment window as compared to currently approved thrombolytic agents.

Disease: acute ischemic stroke

Details:

* On May 12, 2021, Biogen and TMS Co., Ltd. announced that Biogen exercised its option to acquire TMS-007, an investigational drug for acute ischemic stroke, from TMS. Biogen’s decision to acquire TMS-007 was based on positive data from a Phase 2a study. The study met its primary safety objective with no incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and demonstrated positive impacts on both blood vessel reopening in the brain as well as patient functional recovery. Patients were dosed up to 12 hours after the onset of stroke symptoms; average time to treatment was 9.5 hours for patients who received TMS-007 and 9.3 hours for those who received placebo. All patients who received TMS-007 were dosed beyond the time window of approved thrombolytic agents. The randomized, placebo-controlled, ascending dose Phase 2a study included 90 participants in Japan (n=52 TMS-007, n=38 placebo). The primary endpoint of the study evaluated safety as assessed by the incidence of sICH with worsening of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale of four points or more. There were no events reported in the patients who received TMS-007 compared to an incidence of three percent in the patients who received placebo. In addition, TMS-007 demonstrated a significant improvement on the secondary endpoint of functional independence at 90 days, with 40 percent of patients who received TMS-007 achieving scores of 0 or 1 on the modified Rankin Scale, a measure of independence in daily living, indicating either no residual symptoms or no significant disability, compared to 18 percent of patients who received placebo (P=< 0.05). This was supported by objective angiographic evidence of recanalization in the subset of patients with a visible occlusion receiving TMS-007. The recanalization rate, as measured by magnetic resonance angiography, was 58.3 percent (14 out of 24) for patients who received TMS-007 compared to 26.7 percent (4 out of 15) for patients who received placebo (odds-ratio 4.23; 95 percent confidence interval (0.99, 18.07)). Biogen is currently evaluating the next steps for the clinical development of TMS-007, including plans for global studies. Final data results from the Phase 2a study are expected to be communicated at a future scientific forum.

Financial terms: Biogen will make a one-time $18 million payment as part of the acquisition of TMS-007. TMS is eligible to receive up to an additional $335 million in potential post-acquisition development and commercial payments should TMS-007 achieve certain developmental milestones and sales thresholds. TMS is also eligible to receive tiered royalties in the high single digits to sub-teen percentages on annual worldwide net sales. Biogen will be solely responsible for the costs and expenses related to the development, manufacturing and commercialization of TMS-007 following the acquisition.

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