- Collaboration furthers Alexion’s complement leadership with expansion into peptide therapies -
- Agreement provides Alexion with exclusive worldwide licenses for one preclinical target, with option for up to three additional targets, in the complement pathway -
-
- Collaboration further strengthens Zealand Pharma’s position as a leading developer of next generation peptide-based therapeutics -
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190320005266/en/
“We know that uncontrolled activation of the complement pathway is
responsible for many devastating diseases, and through the development
of the first two complement inhibitors – SOLIRIS and ULTOMIRIS – we have
shown the transformative impact of C5 inhibition on several of these
diseases,” said
“Collaborating with Alexion is further evidence of the strength of our peptide discovery platform, which has delivered both approved novel peptide-based therapeutics and a deep late-stage pipeline,” said Adam Steensberg, Interim CEO and Chief Medical and Development Officer at Zealand. “We believe that peptide-based therapies hold great promise in inhibiting complement activation. Alexion’s demonstrated expertise in treating rare and complement-mediated diseases makes this the ideal collaboration to advance Zealand’s complement-focused peptide programs.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Alexion and Zealand will enter into an
exclusive collaboration for the discovery and development of
subcutaneously delivered peptide therapies directed to up to four
complement pathway targets. Zealand will lead the joint discovery and
research efforts through the preclinical stage, and Alexion will lead
development efforts beginning with IND filing and Phase 1 studies. The
agreement provides Alexion with exclusive worldwide licenses and
commercial rights to the peptide therapies developed in the
collaboration. Zealand will receive an immediate upfront payment of
Alexion will discuss the collaboration further during today’s Investor
Day event and webcast. Zealand will host a conference call on
About Alexion
Alexion is a global biopharmaceutical company
focused on serving patients and families affected by rare diseases
through the discovery, development and commercialization of
life-changing therapies. As the global leader in complement biology and
inhibition for more than 20 years, Alexion has developed and
commercializes two approved complement inhibitors to treat patients with
paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) as well as the first and only
approved complement inhibitor to treat atypical hemolytic uremic
syndrome (aHUS) and anti-acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody-positive
generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and is also developing it for
patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Alexion
also has two highly innovative enzyme replacement therapies for patients
with life-threatening and ultra-rare metabolic disorders,
hypophosphatasia (HPP) and lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D). In
addition, the company is developing several mid-to-late-stage therapies,
including a second complement inhibitor, a copper-binding agent for
Wilson disease and an anti-neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) antibody for rare
Immunoglobulin G (IgG)-mediated diseases as well as several early-stage
therapies, including one for light chain (AL) amyloidosis and a second
anti-FcRn therapy. Alexion focuses its research efforts on novel
molecules and targets in the complement cascade and its development
efforts on the core therapeutic areas of hematology, nephrology,
neurology, and metabolic disorders. Alexion has been named to the
[ALXN-G]
About
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release includes
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject
to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Examples
of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make
regarding: (i) the therapeutic and commercial potential of peptide-based
therapies; (ii) research and development plans related to peptide-based
therapies; (iii) the potential of peptide-based therapies for the
treatment of complement-mediated diseases; (iv) the potential for the
collaboration between Alexion and Zealand; and (v) the closing of the
equity investment by Alexion into Zealand, which is subject to standard
closing conditions. The process by which early stage products such as
Zealand’s peptide-based therapies could potentially lead to an approved
product is long and subject to highly significant risks, particularly
with respect to a preclinical research collaboration. Applicable risks
and uncertainties include those relating to preclinical research and
other risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" included in
Alexion’s and Zealand’s most recent Form 10-K and 20-F filings and in
other future filings with the
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190320005266/en/
Source:
Alexion:
Media
Megan Goulart, 857-338-8634
Senior
Director, Corporate Communications
Investors
Susan Altschuller, Ph.D., 857-338-8788
Vice
President, Investor Relations
Zealand Pharma:
Adam Steensberg, +45 5060 3601
Interim
CEO, Chief Medical and Development Officer
Mats Blom, +45 3153 7973
Chief Financial Officer