EQS-News / 18/05/2021 / 10:12 UTC+8
Antengene and Calithera Biosciences Enter into Worldwide Exclusive License Agreement to Develop and Commercialize CD73
Inhibitor CB-708 (ATG-037)
=-Antengene to lead development and commercialization of CD73 inhibitor CB-708 (ATG-037) worldwide
=-Calithera will receive an upfront payment,potential milestones and tiered royalties
SHANGHAI and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, U.S. May 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene",
SEHK: 6996.HK), a leading innovative biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing
global first-in-class and/or best-in-class therapeutics in hematology and oncology, and Calithera Biosciences, Inc.
("Calithera", Nasdaq: CALA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel small
molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, today announced an exclusive, worldwide
license agreement for the development and commercialization of CB-708 (ATG-037), Calithera's small molecule inhibitor
of CD73.
Under the terms of the license agreement, Calithera will receive an upfront payment and potential development,
regulatory and sales milestones, and is eligible to receive tiered royalties on sales of the licensed product within
the range of single to low double-digits.
CD73 generates adenosine that is highly immunosuppressive. It enhances the proliferation of cancer cells through
downregulation of IFN-?, NK cells, and CD8+ T cells. Tumors harness multiple CD73 mediated pathways to avoid an immune
response. Therefore, effective blockade of this target represents an ideal opportunity to restore immune competence in
cancer patients, with strong potential to synergize with conventional therapies and other checkpoint inhibitors. CB-708
is a highly potent, selective, orally-bioavailable inhibitor of CD73 that has great potential as either a monotherapy
or in combination against a range of tumor types.
Preclinical data presented at the 2019 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting and the 2019
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting demonstrated that CB-708 has immune-mediated, single agent
activity in syngeneic mouse tumor models. In preclinical studies, CB-708 was well-tolerated and showed enhanced
anti-tumor activity when combined with either an anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy or with chemotherapeutic agents, such as
oxaliplatin or doxorubicin. CB-708 has completed GLP toxicology studies and is poised to advance into clinical
development.
"We are excited to continue the advancement of CB-708 through our deep experience in global clinical development and
extensive track record in commercialization in major markets around the world," said Dr. Jay Mei, Founder and Chief
Executive Officer of Antengene. "CB-708 is a highly differentiated oral small molecule CD73 inhibitor with
best-in-class potential due to its oral-bioavailability and high potency. It overcomes the 'hook-effect'of clinical
anti-CD73 antibodies and could completely block CD73 activity in vitro. Antengene will continue to complete the GMP
manufacturing of CB-708 and advance it into clinical trials for the treatment of multiple cancers including solid
tumors and hematologic malignancies. This agreement brings a great addition to our portfolio of 12 assets with
synergistic potential, is a testament to our abilities in accelerating global development, and represents another step
in realizing our mission of treating patients beyond borders."
"This agreement validates the capabilities of our drug discovery engine and represents a significant milestone for our
CD73 program," said Susan Molineaux, PhD, president and chief executive officer of Calithera. "Antengene brings
significant enthusiasm and proven global capabilities to the development and future commercialization of CB-708, a
potential best-in-class oral small molecule CD73 inhibitor. This licensing agreement enables the continued advancement
of this promising program, while allowing Calithera to focus our resources on our more advanced clinical programs
evaluating telaglenastat in non-small cell lung cancer and CB-280 in cystic fibrosis."
About Antengene
Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene", SEHK: 6996.HK) is a leading clinical-stage R&D driven biopharmaceutical
company focused on innovative medicines for oncology and other life-threatening diseases. Antengene aims to provide the
most advanced anti-cancer drugs to patients in the Asia Pacific Region and around the world. Since its establishment in
2017, Antengene has built a broad and expanding pipeline of clinical and pre-clinical stage assets through partnerships
as well as in-house drug discovery, and obtained 15 investigational new drug (IND) approvals and submitted 5 new drug
applications (NDA) in multiple markets in Asia Pacific. Antengene's vision is to "Treat Patients Beyond Borders".
Antengene is focused on and committed to addressing significant unmet medical needs by discovering, developing and
commercializing first-in-class/best-in-class therapeutics.
About Calithera Biosciences
Calithera Biosciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery and development of
targeted therapies that disrupt cellular metabolic pathways to preferentially starve tumor cells and enhance
immune-cell activity. Driven by a commitment to rigorous science and a passion for improving the lives of people
impacted by cancer and other life-threatening diseases, Calithera is advancing a pipeline of first-in-clinic, oral
therapeutics to meaningfully expand treatment options available to patients. Calithera is headquartered in South San
Francisco, California.
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development.
18/05/2021 Dissemination of a Marketing Press Release, transmitted by EQS Group.
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May 17, 2021 22:12 ET (02:12 GMT)
