On January 18, 2019 argenx (Euronext & Nasdaq: ARGX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a deep pipeline of differentiated antibody-based therapies for the treatment of severe autoimmune diseases and cancer, reported the closing of the exclusive, global collaboration and license agreement for cusatuzumab (ARGX-110), a highly differentiated anti-CD70 SIMPLE Antibody, with Cilag GmbH International, an affiliate of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (Press release, argenx, JAN 18, 2019, View Source [SID1234532774]). The collaboration agreement became effective following expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and the closing of the private placement described below.
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argenx and Janssen have agreed to a joint global clinical development plan to evaluate cusatuzumab in acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and other potential future indications. Under the terms of the agreement, Janssen will pay argenx $300 million in an upfront payment. argenx will be eligible to receive potentially up to $1.3 billion in development, regulatory and sales milestones, in addition to tiered, double-digit royalties. Janssen will be responsible for commercialization worldwide. argenx retains the option to participate in commercialization efforts in the US, where the companies have agreed to share economics 50/50 on a royalty basis, and outside the US, Janssen will pay double-digit sales royalties to argenx.
In addition, the private placement of 1,766,899 new argenx shares at a price of €100.02 ($113.19, based on the EUR/USD exchange rate as of December 2, 2018) per share to Johnson & Johnson Innovation Inc. — JJDC, Inc. (JJDC) was completed as part of the closing, with gross proceeds to argenx of €176.7 million (approximately $200 million). argenx’s share capital will be €3,789,576.40 after registration of the capital increase. Following Euronext Brussels’ approval of argenx’s request for the admission to listing and trading of the new shares, it is expected that the new shares will be admitted to trading and official listing on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels on January 23, 2019.
About Cusatuzumab
Cusatuzumab (ARGX-110) is an investigational SIMPLE Antibody targeting CD70, an immune checkpoint target involved in hematological malignancies, several solid tumors and severe autoimmune diseases. Cusatuzumab is designed to: block CD70, kill cancer cells expressing CD70 through complement dependent cytotoxicity, enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis and enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and restore immune surveillance against solid tumors (Silence K. et al. mAbs 2014; 6 (2):523-532). Cusatuzumab is currently being evaluated in patients with hematological malignancies, including a Phase 1/2 trial in combination with Vidaza in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. Recently,
cusatuzumab has been granted orphan drug designation for the treatment of AML by FDA. Preclinical work on cusatuzumab in AML was performed in collaboration with the Tumor Immunology Lab of Prof. A. F. Ochsenbein at the University of Bern, who won, together with Prof. Manz at the University Hospital of Zürich, the prestigious 2016 Otto Naegeli Prize for his breakthrough research on CD70/CD27 signaling with therapeutic potential for cancer patients