1stOncology™: Cancer Intelligence Service – Page 17903 – 1stOncology is recognized as a Top 10 Global Pharma Analytic Provider

(Filing, 10-K, Arrowhead Research Corporation, DEC 28, 2012, View Source [SID:1234504646])

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AIMM Therapeutics in strategic partnership with Cosmo Pharmaceuticals

On December 19, 2012 AIMM Therapeutics reported a strategic partnership with Cosmo Pharmaceuticals to develop oral diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies for gastrointestinal diseases including colon carcinoma (Press release, AIMM Therapeutics, DEC 19, 2012, View Source [SID:1234500902]). Under the agreement, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals will formulate novel human monoclonal antibodies generated by AIMM Therapeutics in an extended release form exploiting its proprietary MMX technology. No financial details were disclosed.

Jan de Vries, CEO of AIMM Therapeutics, said, "The strong preclinical in vivo data generated by Cosmo using its MMX technology show the tremendous potential of oral antibody delivery for gastrointestinal diseases. We expect that the combination of Cosmo’s MMX technology with AIMM’s antibodies will allow us to build a unique portfolio of products with a compelling competitive advantage in gastrointestinal disease." Mauro Ajani, Chairman and CEO of Cosmo Pharmaceuticals, said, "Access to AIMM’s proprietary high quality antibodies through our partnership will enable us to rapidly advance the oral delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies into clinical studies.‘’

U.S. SUBSIDIARY EISAI INC. DIVESTS U.S. RIGHTS FOR ANTINEOPLASTIC GLIADEL® WAFER TO ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

On December 18, 2012 Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President & CEO: Haruo Naito, "Eisai") reported its U.S. subsidiary Eisai Inc. has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement to divest U.S. rights for its Gliadel Wafer (carmustine intracranial implant wafer), an antineoplastic agent, to Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Headquarters: Georgia, the United States; President & CEO: Ed Schutter; "Arbor") (Press release, Eisai, DEC 18, 2012, View Source [SID1234569108]). Under this agreement, Eisai Inc. will transfer the New Drug Application (NDA) (rights as the marketing authorization holder) for Gliadel to Arbor. The Eisai Group will retain all rights to Gliadel outside the United States and will continue to manufacture Gliadel at its facility in Baltimore, the United States as well as serve as the exclusive supplier of Gliadel for the global market, including in the United States and Japan.

The Gliadel Wafer is a sustained-release formulation approved for intracranial implantation. Each wafer contains carmustine, a nitrosourea alkylating agent, distributed in a biodegradable copolymer matrix. Implanting the wafer into the brain following surgical removal of a malignant glioma allows direct delivery of chemotherapy to the tumor site. Therefore this agent can be used prior to initiating other standard therapies, such as radiation and chemotherapy.

Arbor is a pharmaceutical company with strengths in hospital-based marketing as well as promising development products in the field of neurosurgery. Eisai believes that this agreement, which enables Arbor to strengthen Gliadel-related information-provision and development activities aimed at indication expansion, will lead to maximization of Gliadel’s product and patient value. Meanwhile, Eisai will be able to strategically reallocate resources to other mid-to-long-term business growth areas so as to continue to make further contributions to address the diversified needs of, and increase the benefits provided to, patients and their families.

Sutro Biopharma Collaborates with Celgene Corporation to Design and Develop Next-Generation Antibody Drug Conjugates and Bispecific Antibodies

On December 18, 2012 Sutro Biopharma reported a collaboration with Celgene Corporation to design and develop novel antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies for two undisclosed targets and to manufacture a proprietary Celgene antibody (Press release Sutro Biopharma, DEC 18, 2012, View Source [SID:1234500757]). Under the terms of the agreement, Sutro will receive a substantial upfront payment, an equity investment in the company and payments for the completion of research, development and regulatory milestones. If all programs are successful, the deal could be worth over $500 million to Sutro. The company is also eligible to receive royalties on product sales.

In the collaboration, Sutro will be responsible for product design and production of preclinical materials using the company’s proprietary, cell-free protein synthesis technology. "We are pleased to work with Celgene on multiple programs that utilize a broad spectrum of Sutro’s cell free protein synthesis technology and capabilities," said William Newell, chief executive officer of Sutro Biopharma. "The scope of this partnership showcases our novel, cell-free approach to designing, developing and manufacturing next-generation ADCs and bispecific antibodies."

Thomas Daniel, M.D., Celgene president, global research and early development, added, "We look forward to working with the team at Sutro and to exploring their platform’s potential to accelerate the discovery and development of superior multifunctional biologics."

Four Oaks Partners advised Sutro on the transaction.

Adimab Announces New Antibody Discovery Collaborations with Pfizer and an Unnamed Partner and Achievement of Milestones in Existing Partnerships with Roche and Merck

On December 17, 2012 Adimab reported the initiation of research collaborations with at the time an undisclosed company (later to known as Merrimack Pharmaceuticals) whereby Adimab will use its proprietary discovery platform to identify fully human antibodies against one oncology target selected by the undisclosed company (Press release Adimab, DEC 17, 2012, View Source [SID:1234500583]). The agreement gives the undisclosed company rights to commercialize antibodies generated from the collaboration. Adimab will receive upfront payments, preclinical milestones and licensing fees. In addition, Adimab is eligible to receive clinical development milestones, commercial milestones and royalties on therapeutic and diagnostic product sales.
Adimab used its proprietary yeast-based antibody discovery platform to discover fully human antibodies against human EGFR that were also cross-reactive with the murine and rhesus forms of the antigen. Adimab delivered the first panel of leads within twelve weeks of project initiation and several leads and backups were further optimized.