Eleven Biotherapeutics Announces Collaboration with ThromboGenics to Develop a Novel Protein Therapeutic for Ophthalmic Disease
Eleven's Protein Therapeutic Design Capabilities Combine with ThromboGenics Novel Biologic Target to Treat Back of Eye Diseases
Cambridge, MA - May 28, 2013 –Eleven Biotherapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company creating novel and differentiated protein-based biotherapeutics for the treatment of ocular diseases, announced today that they have entered into a research collaboration and license agreement with ThromboGenics NV to research and develop a protein therapeutic based on a novel biologic target implicated in ophthalmic disease. The collaboration aims to employ Eleven's proprietary AMP-Rx protein design technology to optimize a novel therapeutic of ThromboGenics' selection to have improved pharmaceutical characteristics and therapeutic benefits. The novel biologic will be designed to treat back of the eye diseases such as diabetic macular edema.
Under the terms of the agreement, Eleven will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and is eligible to receive undisclosed development, regulatory and sales milestone payments as well as royalties on potential future sales commensurate with industry standards. ThromboGenics will have the exclusive license to pursue development and commercialization of the novel protein and both companies will work together on preclinical research.
"Eleven's novel approach to designing protein therapeutics for ocular diseases, which has been demonstrated with EBI-005, our lead product candidate in Phase 1b clinical development for dry eye disease, will be applied to discover and optimize novel modulators of this evolving pathway which is central to ophthalmic disease," said Abbie Celniker, President and CEO of Eleven Biotherapeutics. "This collaboration demonstrates the commitment of both Eleven Biotherapeutics and ThromboGenics to developing proteins to treat a variety of ocular diseases and validates Eleven's unique approach to rational protein engineering through novel structures, enhanced biophysical properties, and more effective targeting in disease pathways."
Eleven Biotherapeutics recently presented clinical and preclinical data at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2013 Annual Meeting highlighting its novel approach to optimizing topically applied proteins on the surface of the eye and its lead product candidate, EBI-005, as the first rationally-designed topically administered IL-1 protein for the treatment of ocular diseases, including dry eye disease. Patient enrollment and dosing has been completed in a Phase 1b clinical study of EBI-005 treating patients with dry eye disease; top-line data is expected in the second half of 2013.
About Eleven Biotherapeutics
Eleven Biotherapeutics creates novel and differentiated biotherapeutics: first-of-a-kind protein-based drugs with significantly improved physical, pharmaceutical, and therapeutic benefits. The company's AMP-Rx™ product engine brings capabilities beyond conventional approaches for making protein therapeutics, opening up new territory for the products to have novel structures, enhanced biophysical properties, and more effective targeting in disease pathways. Eleven's success is built on designing proteins 'fit for purpose' that are rationally designed to have ideal therapeutic characteristics and result in best-in-class biotherapeutic products for a wide range of diseases. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company was founded in 2010 by life science investors Flagship Ventures and Third Rock Ventures and world-renowned scientific experts. For more information, please visit www.elevenbio.com.
Gina Nugent
The Yates Network
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