ABLYNX Exclusive license agreement with Taisho Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd., to develop and commercialise ozoralizumab in Japan for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Ablynx to receive an upfront payment, future milestones and royalties on net sales
GHENT, Belgium, 30 June 2015 - Ablynx [Euronext Brussels: ABLX; OTC: ABYLY] today announced that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Taisho") for the development and commercialisation of Ablynx's anti-TNFα Nanobody, ozoralizumab, in Japan, for the treatment of RA.Under the terms of the agreement, Taisho will be responsible for development, registration and commercialisation of anti-TNFα Nanobody therapeutics in Japan. Ablynx will receive an upfront payment of US$3 million and is entitled to receive development and commercial milestone payments plus royalties based on annual net sales of anti-TNFα Nanobody therapeutics generated in Japan.
Dr Edwin Moses, CEO of Ablynx, commented:"We continue to deliver on our partnering strategy for ozoralizumab and are very pleased that this Nanobody could now become a potential new treatment option for inflammatory diseases in Japan. This is our first step in building a presence in Japan and we are looking forward to working together with Taisho to make this novel treatment option available to Japanese patients living with RA."
About ozoralizumab
Ozoralizumab is a next-generation TNFα blocker with clinical Phase II proof-of-concept in RA1. The therapeutic molecule consists of two Nanobodies targeting TNFα, which are linked to a Nanobody that binds to human serum albumin, extending the drug's half-life and improving its distribution to inflamed joints in vivo.
More information on ozoralizumab is available on the Ablynx website under the section R&D portfolio.
On 1 September 2014, Ablynx granted an exclusive royalty-bearing license to Eddingpharm, one of the leading Chinese specialty pharmaceutical companies, to develop and commercialise ozoralizumab in Greater China.
IMS Health projects that the global pharmaceutical market will reach between $1.13 trillion and $1.24 trillion by 2017. The United States is expected to hold the number one position with 31% market share and Japan is expected to retain the number two spot with a 9% share (if traditional Chinese medicines are excluded), with growth expected to be driven by easing of regulatory guidelines, an aging population and
1 Press releases published on 17 May 2011 and 25 June 2012
a strong product pipeline. Japan is expected to account for 13% of original brand pharmaceutical sales by
2017.
There are approximately 800,000 patients in Japan living with rheumatoid arthritis, and sales of anti-TNFα drugs in Japan amounted to $1.2bn in 2011, representing approximately 1.5% of the total Japanese pharmaceutical market. In developed markets, IMS projects that anti-TNFα medicines will represent the third largest therapeutic class by 2017 with an estimated market size of $32-37 billion.
Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is working to increase its corporate value by leveraging the combined power of the Self-Medication and the Prescription Pharmaceutical Operation Group. As a leader in OTC drugs in Japan, the Self-Medication Operation Group supplies a large number of switch-OTC drugs and healthcare products. The group is also developing its business in the Overseas OTC drugs sector to meet local needs in a context of economic growth in each country. Meanwhile, the Prescription Pharmaceutical Operation Group is focusing on research and development of highly unique new drugs that will succeed in markets worldwide. Especially, the group has a strong capability to develop new drugs for the field of orthopaedics. The group is also actively promoting this program aiming to launch a continued stream of new drugs onto the markets.
About AblynxAblynxis a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of Nanobodies®, proprietary therapeutic proteins based on single-domain antibody fragments, which combine the advantages of conventional antibody drugs with some of the features of small-molecule drugs. Ablynx is dedicated to creating new medicines which will make a real difference to society. Today, the Company has more than
30 proprietary and partnered programmesin development in various therapeutic areas including inflammation, haematology, immuno-oncology, oncology and respiratory disease. The Company has collaborations with multiple pharmaceutical companies including AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eddingpharm, Genzyme, Merck & Co, Inc., Merck Serono and Novartis. The Company is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium. More information can be found on www.ablynx.com.
Dr Edwin Moses
CEO
t: +32 (0)9 262 00 07 m: +32 (0)473 39 50 68
e: edwin.moses@ablynx.com
Marieke Vermeersch
Associate Director Investor Relations t: +32 (0)9 262 00 82
m: +32 (0)479 49 06 03
e: marieke.vermeersch@ablynx.com
@AblynxABLX
Mary-Jane Elliott, Jonathan Birt, Chris Welsh, Lindsey Neville t: +44 203 709 5700
e: ablynx@consilium-comms.com
Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors' current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any
anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its parent or subsidiary undertakings or any such person's officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward -looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
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