On March 2, 2021 Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: FUSN), a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing next-generation radiopharmaceuticals as precision medicines, reported it has entered into an asset purchase agreement (APA) to acquire Ipsen’s (Euronext: IPN; ADR; IPSEY) intellectual property and assets related to IPN-1087 (Press release, Fusion Pharmaceuticals, MAR 2, 2021, View Source [SID1234575921]). IPN-1087 is a small molecule targeting neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1), a protein expressed on multiple solid tumor types. Fusion intends to use IPN-1087 to create an alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical, FPI-2059, targeting solid tumors expressing NTSR1.
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"The acquisition of IPN-1087 augments and further diversifies our pipeline of potent alpha-emitting radiopharmaceuticals and leverages our expertise to create targeted alpha therapies (TATs) using different classes of targeting molecules," said Chief Executive Officer John Valliant, Ph.D. "In clinical imaging studies, IPN-1087, which targets an established tumor target, has shown uptake in multiple tumor types. Combining IPN-1087 with the power of actinium-225, an alpha-emitter, we believe FPI-2059 will precisely target and kill tumor cells, leading to a significant opportunity to advance the treatment of high unmet need diseases, such as colorectal cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)."
Under the terms of the APA, Fusion will issue to Ipsen 400,000 shares of its common stock upon closing and an additional 200,000 shares upon the achievement of a patent-related milestone. Such shares will be issued pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Fusion will also be obligated to pay Ipsen up to an additional €67.5 million upon the achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones; low single-digit royalties on potential future net sales; and up to €350.0 million in net sales milestones, in each case, relating to products covered by the APA. Fusion will be responsible for paying to a third-party licensor up to €70.0 million in development milestone payments and mid-single to low-double-digit royalties on potential future net sales of products covered by the license agreement.
Covington & Burling and Goodwin Proctor represented Fusion as legal advisors in the transaction. Barclays represented Ipsen as exclusive financial advisor and Hogan Lovells acted as Ipsen’s legal advisor.
About FPI-2059
FPI-2059 will be a radioconjugate combining actinium-225 with IPN-1087, for development as a targeted alpha therapy for various solid tumors. The molecule targets NTSR1, a promising target for cancer treatment, that is overexpressed in multiple solid tumors. IPN-1087 was in Phase 1 clinical development as a lutetium-177-based radiopharmaceutical for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, colorectal cancer and gastric cancers expressing NTSR1.