Stallergenes to exercise option to develop and commercialize a birch allergy new product
DBV eligible for milestone payments and royalties on Stallergenes' net sales
Stallergenes acquires an equity position in DBV
ANTONY and BAGNEUX, France, 18 October 2013 - Stallergenes S.A. (Euronext Paris: GENP), worldwide leader in allergen immunotherapy, and DBV Technologies (Euronext Paris: DBV), creator of Viaskin® for the treatment of allergies, announced today that they have entered into a research and development agreement for the treatment of birch allergy. This collaboration is the first agreement following their previously announced collaboration focused on developing innovative treatments for respiratory allergies. This partnership combines Stallergenes' world class respiratory allergy know-how with DBV's novel Viaskin® epicutaneous delivery technology that modulates the immune response to allergens.
Birch pollen-allergic patients commonly have seasonal allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. The majority of Birch pollen-allergic patients also develop allergies to certain plant foods, also known as oral allergy syndrome (OAS), due to a cross reaction between birch pollen allergens and food proteins with similar structures. This syndrome can manifest itself in itching or swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat. Occasionally, the reaction is more severe. DBV's Viaskin technology, which has shown excellent safety in clinical setting into dangerous and life-threatening allergies, may therefore be particularly well-suited to address the Birch-sensitized population.
Under the terms of this agreement, Stallergenes will fully fund DBV's pre-clinical development. The goal of the preclinical program, which will last between 18 and 24 months is for DBV to deliver to Stallergenes a clinical product candidate that uses Stallergenes' Birch pollen allergen. Stallergenes will have full development and worldwide commercialization rights on the product candidate, and DBV is eligible to receive several preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone payment totaling up to €145 million, as well as royalties on the future product's net sales.
In conjunction with this agreement, Stallergenes acquires a 2.0% equity position in DBV from existing shareholders.
Dr. Pierre-Henri Benhamou, Chairman and CEO of DBV Technologies, said: "We are pleased to partner with Stallergenes on this exciting respiratory development program using a recombinant Birch allergen protein. This reflects the broader potential of the Viaskin technology beyond only food allergies. Given Stallergenes' experience in immunotherapy and allergen development, coupled with DBV's epicutaneous delivery technology, this collaboration could lead to a valuable medical treatment for patients with respiratory allergies."
Dr. Roberto Gradnik, CEO of Stallergenes, said: "This collaboration on birch allergy with DBV Technologies is the first concrete project combining our in-depth expertise in allergen immunotherapy with DBV's promising epicutaneous route of administration. Illustrating our continuous focus on innovation and patients' needs, it will provide a highly innovative solution for patients suffering from intense symptoms due to birch allergy."
In 2003, Stallergenes licensed Biomay recombinant birch pollen protein technology.