BOSTON and WADENSWIL, Switzerland -- Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc. and Numab AG today announced a strategic collaboration focused on the development of once- or twice-yearly mono-specific and multi-specific antibodies addressing diabetes, obesity and autoimmune indications.
Under the terms of the collaboration, Numab is eligible to receive upfront and contingent milestone payments, as well as tiered single to low double-digit royalties on any sales resulting from collaborative efforts. Intarcia has the option to extend the collaboration beyond the initial assets and targets as well as the opportunity to purchase a strategic interest in Numab AG at a pre-defined time point. Intarcia will be responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of all products stemming from the collaboration.
Kurt Graves, Chairman, President and CEO of Intarcia Therapeutics, commented: "We believe the unique characteristics of Numab's antibody technology fit perfectly with our disruptive platform technologies, which have the potential to eliminate life-long injections and produce best-in-disease once- or twice-yearly medicines. Now is the time, as we finish our phase 3 program for ITCA 650 in type 2 diabetes, to take this important strategic step to enhance and expand our pipeline. This collaboration reinforces Intarcia's ongoing priority to develop game-changing therapeutics that address major unmet medical needs such as suboptimal efficacy as well as poor compliance and adherence."
David Urech Ph. D, CSO and co-CEO of Numab AG, stressed: "This collaboration triggers the development of a new generation of medications that addresses the notorious shortcomings of conventional antibody therapeutics. It reflects Numab's ambition to partner with companies that share our dedication for true innovation."
About Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc.
Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc. is an independent, privately held, biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to enhance treatment outcomes by optimizing and improving the efficacy, continuous administration and tolerability of drug therapies. In addition, delivering medicines just once- or twice-yearly has the potential to ensure improved patient adherence and compliance, which is very poor in most chronic diseases. Intarcia's drug development expertise and competitive edge are demonstrated by its abilities to stabilize proteins and peptides at above-body temperature and to deliver them in a constant and consistent manner via Intarcia's proprietary technology platform. Intarcia is conducting a phase 3-stage development program for type 2 diabetes that consists of four separate clinical trials, two of which have been completed. Intarcia continues to conduct research and development, utilizing its platform technology, to treat other chronic serious disorders in the field of diabetes and obesity. For more information on the Intarcia, please visit www.intarcia.com.
About ITCA 650
ITCA 650 (a once- or twice-yearly continuous subcutaneous delivery of exenatide) is being developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The investigational therapy employs Intarcia's proprietary technology platform involving a matchstick-size, miniature osmotic pump that is placed sub-dermally to provide continuous and consistent drug therapy, and the company's proprietary formulation technology, which maintains stability of therapeutic proteins and peptides at human body temperatures for extended periods of time. Exenatide, the active agent in ITCA 650, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist currently marketed globally as twice-daily and once-weekly self-injection therapies for type 2 diabetes. Upon approval, ITCA 650 would represent the first injection-free GLP-1 therapy that can deliver up to a full year of treatment from a single placement. ITCA 650 is currently in a global phase 3 clinical trial program called FREEDOM.
About Numab
Founded in 2011, Numab discovers and develops innovative antibody-based therapeutics. Applying proprietary rabbit-based antibody discovery and engineering technology, Numab generates highly potent and stable antibody-based molecules that serve as building blocks to create multi-specific antibody-based therapeutics with tailored pharmacokinetic properties. Numab's therapeutic antibodies are designed to improve on existing therapies in terms of effect size, effect duration and safety. For further information, visitwww.numab.com.