Agenus Acquires Novel Antibodies to Immuno-oncology Target CEACAM1
July 20 2015 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
Target Expressed on Lymphocytes and Tumors
Offers Unique Advantages for Unlocking the Immune Response to Fight
Cancer
Agenus Inc. (NASDAQ: AGEN), an immunology company developing
innovative treatments for cancers and other diseases, today
announced that it has acquired rights to antibodies targeting
Carcinoembryonic Antigen Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (CEACAM1), a
glycoprotein expressed on T cell and NK cell lymphocytes from
Diatheva s.r.l., an Italian biotech company controlled by SOL
S.p.A. CEACAM1 is overexpressed in melanoma, bladder, lung, colon,
pancreas, and gastric cancers and has been shown to modulate innate
and adaptive immune suppression in pre-clinical studies. Antibodies
targeting CEACAM1 are thought to have the potential to effectively
treat cancer alone or in combination with other checkpoint
modulator antibodies, including those in Agenus’ development
pipeline.
“CEACAM1 is emerging as a powerful immune modulator, with
significant evidence that blocking its interactions could
strengthen immune cells’ attack on cancer,” said Robert Stein,
M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Agenus. “Diatheva’s
anti-CEACAM1 monoclonal antibodies expand and complement our broad
portfolio of checkpoint modulators and personalized cancer
vaccines, with the potential to create best-in-class combination
therapies for treating patients with cancer.”
Under the license agreement, Agenus receives exclusive,
worldwide rights for development and commercialization of CEACAM1
antibodies from Diatheva. Agenus is responsible for certain
upfront, early development, clinical trial and regulatory milestone
payments for the successful development of CEACAM1 antibodies
totaling as much as $44 million. Diatheva is also eligible to
receive additional sales milestones and royalties.
Professor Mauro Magnani, Ph.D., Founder and Scientific Director
of Diatheva, stated, “Agenus’ proven immuno-oncology and
development capabilities, represents an exciting opportunity for
Diatheva’s most advanced human monoclonal antibodies. Agenus’
selection of our anti-CEACAM1 antibodies is indicative of the
quality of Diatheva’s research and will support reinvestment in our
company’s pipeline.”
About AgenusAgenus is an immunology company developing
novel checkpoint modulators, vaccines and adjuvants to treat
cancer, infectious diseases and other immune disorders. Using its
proprietary platforms Retrocyte DisplayTM and SECANT®, the Company
is discovering and developing novel antibodies to target GITR,
OX40, CTLA-4, LAG-3, TIM-3, PD-1 and other undisclosed checkpoints
in partnered and internal programs. Agenus’ heat shock protein
vaccine, Prophage, has successfully completed Phase 2 studies in
newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. The Company’s QS-21
Stimulon® adjuvant is extensively partnered with GlaxoSmithKline
and Janssen Sciences Ireland UC, and two vaccine candidates
containing QS-21 have successfully completed Phase 3 trials. For
more information, please visit www.agenusbio.com, or follow the
company on Twitter @Agenus_Bio; information that may be important
to investors will be routinely posted in these locations.
About DiathevaDIATHEVA s.r.l., was founded in 2002 by
researchers and angel investors as a spin off of the University of
Urbino in Italy. In 2012 the SOL Group acquired a majority stake in
Diatheva and has since continued to invest in the company’s
operations. Diatheva’s mission is to translate research into
industrial products through collaborations with industry partners
as well as with public and private research institutions. Diatheva
is focused on the development, production and commercialization of
new and innovative biotechnology products (antibodies, recombinant
proteins, immunoassays and molecular diagnostic kits) for research
and therapeutic applications in the fields of cancer, microbial
detection and pharmacogenetics based on its significant preclinical
pipeline of patented antibodies. Diatheva’s capabilities include a
GMP-certified facility for production of API material intended for
preclinical and clinical studies, with a special emphasis on
therapeutic antibodies, recombinant enzymes and immunogens.
Diatheva is an ISO 9001 /UNI EN ISO 9001:2008 certified
company.
SOL is an Italian multinational group which operates in Europe,
Morocco, Turkey and India in two distinct sectors: the production,
applied research and marketing of technical, pure and medicinal
gases and in respiratory home care. SOL employs more than 3,000
people in 26 countries. Its parent company, SOL S.p.A has been
listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 1998. Group revenues for
the fiscal year ending December 31st 2014 were €636 million.
Healthcare-focused biotechnology research represents a new area of
focus for the SOL Group.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains
forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, including
statements regarding the expected benefit from the acquisition of
Diatheva’s rights to antibodies targeting CEACAM1, the potential
milestone payments and royalties payable to Diatheva and the
Company’s potential to create best-in-class combination therapies
for treating patients with cancer. These forward-looking statements
are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties
include, among others, the factors described under the Risk Factors
section of Agenus’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for the period ended March 31,
2015. Agenus cautions investors not to place considerable reliance
on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These
statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and
Agenus undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements,
other than to the extent required by law. All forward-looking
statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this
cautionary statement.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150720005321/en/
Media:BMC CommunicationsBrad Miles,
646-513-3125bmiles@bmccommunications.comorInvestors:Argot
PartnersAndrea Rabney/Jamie Maarten,
212-600-1902andrea@argotpartners.comjamie@argotpartners.com
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