As part of their new partnership deal, Numab and Ono Pharmaceutical entered a global research, development and commercialisation collaboration multi-specific antibody NM49. In addition to an undisclosed upfront payment, Numab has secured an option to co-develop the drug with a profit-split arrangement in the United States for the first time.
For the third time, Numab is collaborating with Ono Pharmaceutical, a Japan-based R&D-oriented pharmaceutical company committed to creating innovative medicines in specific areas. Under the terms of the agreement, Ono has obtained an to in-license NM49, a multi-specific antibody identified through Numab’s proprietary discovery and engineering technology platform designed to activate tumor-associated macrophage phagocytosis for the treatment of cancers.
Numab will be responsible for conducting preclinical studies and CMC activities with Ono covering the related expenses and being responsible for development and associated costs if the program enters clinical development. Numab will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and is eligible for additional payments based upon the achievement of certain development, regulatory and sales milestones as well as tiered royalties on net sales. The startup also has the option to co-develop and commercialise the drug candidate in the United States. The option can be exercised prior to the start of a Phase 3 clinical trial and if exercised, Numab will be eligible for co-promotion and a 50/50 profit split arrangement in the United States.
“This important partnership marks our third collaboration with Ono and the first one where Numab has the option to co-develop and commercialize in the United States. “We are thrilled to continue working with Ono on developing new high impact multi-specific therapeutics for cancer patients,” said David Urech, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Numab Therapeutics. “The collaboration will further expand Numab’s product pipeline and improve the productivity of our R&D activities”
“We are very pleased to strengthen the partnership with Numab through the development and commercialization of NM49 generated through Numab’s unique multi-specific antibody platform,” said Toichi Takino, Senior Executive Officer / Executive Director, Discovery & Research of Ono. “We are committed to the development and commercialization of NM49 to deliver it as a new therapeutic option to patients as soon as possible by maximally utilizing Ono’s deep immuno-oncology expertise.”
Besides NM49, Numab Therapeutics has a pipeline of multi-specific antibody-based immunotherapies for inflammation and cancer. Its lead candidate NM26, a unique multi-specific targeting IL-4/13 and IL-31 for best-in-class efficacy, is developed to deliver a lifelong cure to patients suffering from atopic dermatitis and other potential indications. Reproducible plug-and-play therapeutic design process using proprietary platforms λ-Cap™ and MATCH™ puts Numab in a unique position to overcome historical drug discovery barriers and build a pipeline of new and important medicines aimed to maximise patient benefits.
(Press release/RAN)
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