Date: 2015-10-20
Type of information: IPO
Company: Noxxon Pharma (Germany)
Investors:
Amount:
Funding type: IPO
Planned used: Noxxon Pharma intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for the further clinical development of its lead product candidate NOX-A12 in various oncology indications, advancement of its pre-clinical pipeline and discovery efforts to identify new immuno-oncology and tumor microenvironment-targeting product candidates, completion of the on-going NOX-H94 trial and general corporate purposes. NOX-A12 is a Spiegelmer drug candidate under development as a combination therapy in multiple cancer indications. Spiegelmers are synthetic mirror image nucleic acids highly specific for the pharmacollogically relevant target for which they are selected. This new class of therapeutics developed by Noxxon Pharma are designed to combine the benefits of small chemical molecules and biologicals such as antibodies. They can be manufactured chemically and Noxxon has established optimized production and quality control methods in-house and with partners for production in accordance with good manufacturing practices. NOX-A12 is currently being developed for treatment of multiple myeloma, advanced solid tumor cancers and brain cancer. Noxxon has generated promising pre-clinical and clinical data, including its most recent phase 2a trials in multiple myeloma and a second hematological cancer that showed a safety profile that supports further development and first signs of efficacy. Noxxon intends to develop NOX-A12 in multiple myeloma, in advanced solid tumor cancers, such as lung and colorectal cancer, and in brain cancer. NOX-A12 has received orphan drug designation for two types of brain cancer; glioblastoma in the United States and glioma in Europe. NOX-A12 targets CXCL12, a key chemokine (signaling) protein, which promotes tumor proliferation, new blood vessel formation to the tumor, spread of the tumor and reduces tumor apoptosis (cell death). NOX-A12 is designed to be combined with other cancer targeting therapies to fight tumors by modulating the tumor microenvironment in three distinct ways. NOX-A12’s target, called CXCL12, attracts blood cancer cells to protective niches in the bone marrow. NOX-A12 is intended to expel tumor cells from these niches leaving cancer cells in the blood stream where they are more susceptible to tumor-killing drugs. CXCL12 forms a protective biochemical ‘wall’ around certain solid tumors, blocking entry of immune system cells that can kill tumor cells. NOX-A12 has the potential to destroy the ‘wall,’ enabling active immune cells, such as killer T-cells, to enter the tumor with the aim of unleashing the full potential of immuno-oncology approaches such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. CXCL12 attracts ‘repair cells’ to tumors damaged by anti-cancer therapy, for instance following radiotherapy. NOX-A12 is aimed at blocking this effect to prevent tumor re-growth. In addition to NOX-A12, the Company has a broad pipeline of drug candidates, which in the Company’s view is an indication of the versatility of the Company’s core technology. NOX-H94, which is in development to treat anemia of chronic disease, i.e. functional iron deficiency, is expected to deliver phase 2a data in Q1’2016.
Others: * On October 20, 2015, Noxxon Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on cancer treatment development, announced its intention to raise new funds through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and the listing of its ordinary shares on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris. The Offering and listing, and their timing, are subject to, among other matters, market conditions. The intended Offering would consist of newly issued Shares only. Noxxon intends to seek admission to listing and trading of the Shares on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris. The Offering and the listing, and their timing, are subject to, among other matters, market conditions. Kempen & Co N.V. is acting as Sole Global Coordinator and, together with Gilbert Dupont SNC as the Joint Bookrunners, for the Offering. Certain of Noxxon’s current shareholders have indicated their intention to subscribe for Shares in the Offering to underline their further support of the Company and its strategy. Spiegelmers are a new class of drug designed to combine the benefits of small chemical molecules and biologicals such as antibodies. They have been administered to more than 300 human subjects to date, with a good safety and tolerability profile. By using ‘mirror image’ chemistry, Spiegelmers solve two key problems that have limited the development of aptamer therapeutics. Spiegelmers have high stability in biological fluids since they are not recognized by naturally occurring enzymes that degrade RNA or DNA. Spiegelmers are also unlikely to elicit an immune reaction since they escape innate immune system surveillance. Spiegelmers can be manufactured chemically and therefore do not require complex biological production processes and NOXXON has established optimized production and quality control methods in-house and with partners for production in accordance with good manufacturing practice.
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
