On May 24, 2018 Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:KPTI) (Karyopharm) and Antengene Corporation (Antengene), reported their entry into an exclusive license agreement for the development and commercialization of four of Karyopharm’s novel, oral drug candidates, including selinexor, Karyopharm’s lead SINE compound, eltanexor, Karyopharm’s second-generation SINE compound, verdinexor, Karyopharm’s lead compound in development for viral and other non-oncology indications, and KPT-9274, Karyopharm’s dual inhibitor of PAK4 and NAMPT (Press release, Karyopharm, MAY 24, 2018, View Source [SID1234526885]).The agreement includes the development and commercialization of selinexor and eltanexor for the diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of all human oncology indications in China and Macau. The agreement also includes the development and commercialization of KPT-9274 in all human oncology indications and verdinexor in human non-oncology indications in mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and the ASEAN countries.
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Under the terms of the agreement, Karyopharm will receive a one-time upfront payment of $12 million (USD) from Antengene. Karyopharm is eligible to receive up to an additional $150 million (USD) if certain future prespecified development, regulatory and commercial milestones are achieved by Antengene. Karyopharm is also eligible to receive tiered double-digit royalties based on future net sales of selinexor and eltanexor in China and Macau, and tiered single- to double-digit royalties based on future net sales of verdinexor and KPT-9274 in the relevant territories. In exchange, Antengene will receive exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize the compounds in the agreed to territories, at its own cost and expense. Antengene will also have the ability to participate in any global clinical study of selinexor, eltanexor, verdinexor or KPT-9274, and will bear the cost and expense for patients enrolled in clinical studies in the agreed to territories.
"This agreement with Karyopharm brings to our pipeline four promising, clinical-stage product candidates with broad applicability across multiple disease areas, with a particular focus in oncology, with the potential to help patients in a number of Asian territories. To complement the ongoing clinical development efforts by Karyopharm, Antengene may initiate additional clinical trials in diseases with high incidence in Greater China and other Asian regions," said Jay Mei, MD, PhD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Antengene. "At Antengene, we are driven by a higher purpose and our goal is to become a market leader in developing innovative therapies that address unmet medical needs in the Asia Pacific region. We are delighted to partner with Karyopharm, a pioneering oncology company with a strong track record in the research and development of novel, targeted compounds, and we believe this transaction underscores our strong focus on and commitment to healthcare innovation."
"Antengene is dedicated to developing novel, cutting-edge therapies and has strong clinical and regulatory expertise and capabilities in China and the other licensed Asian regions," said Michael G. Kauffman, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Karyopharm. "This strategic alliance adds to the impressive consortium of global Karyopharm partners who are actively advancing our novel oral drug candidates in these important markets, while allowing us to focus our internal resources on executing our late-phase selinexor trials and pursue regulatory approval in the United States and the European Union. In particular, this collaboration for additional territories in Asia complements our existing partnership with Ono Pharmaceutical for selinexor and eltanexor in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and the ASEAN countries."
About Selinexor
Selinexor (KPT-330) is a first-in-class, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export / SINE compound. Selinexor functions by binding with and inhibiting the nuclear export protein XPO1 (also called CRM1), leading to the accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins in the cell nucleus. This reinitiates and amplifies their tumor suppressor function and is believed to lead to the selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells, while largely sparing normal cells. To date, over 2,400 patients have been treated with selinexor. In April 2018, Karyopharm reported positive top-line data from the Phase 2b STORM study evaluating selinexor in combination with low-dose dexamethasone in patients with penta-refractory multiple myeloma. Selinexor has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in multiple myeloma and Fast Track designation for the patient population evaluated in the STORM study. Karyopharm plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during the second half of 2018, with a request for accelerated approval for oral selinexor as a new treatment for patients with penta-refractory multiple myeloma. The Company also plans to submit a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in early 2019 with a request for conditional approval. Selinexor is also being evaluated in several other mid- and later-phase clinical trials across multiple cancer indications, including in multiple myeloma in a pivotal, randomized Phase 3 study in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) and low-dose dexamethasone (BOSTON) and as a potential backbone therapy in combination with approved therapies (STOMP), and in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (SADAL), liposarcoma (SEAL), and an investigator-sponsored study in endometrial cancer (SIENDO), among others. Additional Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies are ongoing or currently planned, including multiple studies in combination with one or more approved therapies in a variety of tumor types to further inform Karyopharm’s clinical development priorities for selinexor. Additional clinical trial information for selinexor is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About Eltanexor
Eltanexor is a second generation oral SINE compound. Eltanexor functions by binding to and inhibiting the nuclear export protein XPO1 (also called CRM1), leading to the accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins in the cell nucleus. Eltanexor has demonstrated minimal brain penetration in animals, which has been associated with reduced toxicities in preclinical studies while maintaining potent anti-tumor effects. A Phase 1/2 clinical study is currently ongoing evaluating eltanexor in myelodysplastic syndrome, colorectal cancer and castrate-resistant prostate cancer.
About Verdinexor
Verdinexor (KPT-335) is a first-in-class, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compound being investigated across a variety of non-oncology indications in humans with an initial focus as a potential broad-spectrum treatment for viral diseases. Verdinexor functions by binding to and inhibiting the nuclear export protein XPO1 (also called CRM1), which is believed to be responsible for the movement of critical host cell and pathogen encoded cargoes across the nuclear membrane into the cytoplasm. Inhibition of this process with verdinexor results in accumulation of these cargoes in the nucleus, where they promote an anti-inflammatory state and prevent key steps in pathogen replication from occurring. Prior preclinical research showed efficacy of verdinexor in several viral models, including HIV and promising pre-clinical data has also been observed in multiple additional non-oncology indications. In a previously conducted randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalating Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy human volunteers, verdinexor was found to be generally safe and well tolerated, with adverse events occurring in similar number and grade as placebo.
About KPT-9274
KPT-9274 is a first-in-class, orally bioavailable, small molecule immunometabolic modulator that works through non-competitive dual inhibition of p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT). NAMPT and NAPRT (Nicotinate Phosphoribosyltransferas) are the two main pathways for production of the NAD (nicotinamide dinucleotide). About 15-30% of all solid tumors are deficient in NAPRT, making them reliant on NAMPT for NAD production. Co-inhibition of PAK4 and NAMPT is believed to lead to synergistic anti-tumor effects through suppression of ß-catenin by blocking PAK4, leading to both immune cell activation and inhibition of tumor growth, blockade of DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, and energy depletion through NAMPT inhibition, and ultimately apoptosis. KPT-9274 may therefore have both immune-activating and direct antitumor effects. Tumors deficient in NAPRT may be particularly susceptible to KPT-9274’s actions. In contrast, normal cells are less sensitive to inhibition by KPT-9274 due in part to their relative genomic stability and lower metabolic demands. KPT-9274 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical study in advanced solid tumors and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma