Affibody Announces Option Exercise by Biotest
Solna, Sweden, December 4, 2018. Affibody AB (“Affibody”), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of innovative drug projects, today announced that its partner Biotest, a Germany-based biotherapeutic company, has exercised an option under the two companies’ ongoing collaboration.
“Biotest has finalized the research phase of the research license and option agreement we originally signed in 2015 and based on the preclinical results decided to exercise its option. Biotest now receives exclusive rights for further development and commercialization of an innovative new haemophilia product”, said David Bejker, CEO of Affibody. “We are delighted with this decision, which demonstrates the innovative nature and competitive strength of our Affibody® technology.”
"Preclinical results so far with the Albumod™ technology are very promising and we believe in its potential for the development of improved protein drugs in Biotest's therapeutic areas such as haemophilia" says Dr Jörg Schüttrumpf, Senior Vice President Global Research Biotest.
Affibody will receive a license conversion fee and milestone payments as well as royalties.
About haemophilia
As a lifelong inherited bleeding disorder, haemophilia affects about 1 in 10,000 people worldwide. With estimated USD 11 billion in 2024, the global FVIII/FIX market is substantial and grows with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 1.8%. Haemophilia is one of a number of such disorders that prevent blood from clotting properly. People with haemophilia experience prolonged internal bleeding that can result from a seemingly minor injury. Bleeding into joints and muscles causes severe pain and disability while bleeding into major organs, such as the brain, can cause death. For more information on haemophilia, please visit the World Federation of Haemophilia website at http://www.wfh.org/en/page.aspx?pid=646
About the AlbumodTM technology
Affibody's AlbumodTM technology is designed to enhance the efficacy of biopharmaceuticals by extending their circulatory half-life, thereby allowing for less frequent dosing and less fluctuations of concentrations in blood. In addition to these patient safety benefits, the overall treatment costs could be reduced. For more information please refer to: www.affibody.se.
About Affibody
Affibody is a clinical stage Swedish biotech company with a broad product pipeline focused on developing innovative next generation biopharmaceuticals based on its unique proprietary technology platforms: Affibody® molecules and Albumod™.
The company operates a focused experimental medicines model and currently has four clinical or late stage preclinical proprietary programs. The first three are therapeutic programs that target psoriasis, B-cell driven autoimmune diseases, and liver diseases respectively. The fourth program is a diagnostic imaging program that is directed primarily towards metastatic breast cancer.
In addition, to its portfolio of innovative drug projects the company offers the half-life extension technology, Albumod™, for outlicensing.
Affibody has ongoing commercial relationships with several companies such as AbClon, Biotest, Daewoong, Daiichi Sankyo, GE Healthcare, and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum.
Further information can be found at: www.affibody.com
About Biotest
Biotest is a provider of plasma proteins and biological drugs. With a value added chain that extends from pre-clinical and clinical development to worldwide sales, Biotest has specialized primarily in the areas of clinical immunology, haematology and intensive medicine. Biotest develops and markets immunoglobulins, coagulation factors and albumin based on human blood plasma. These are used for diseases of the immune and haematopoietic systems. In addition, Biotest develops monoclonal antibodies in certain cancer indications and in systemic lupus erythematodes, an autoimmune disease, which are produced by recombinant technologies. Biotest has more than 1,600 employees worldwide. The ordinary and preference shares of Biotest AG are listed in the Prime Standard on the German stock exchange.
Affibody
David Bejker, CEO: +46 706 454 948
Johan Stuart CFO: +46 706 644 096
Biotest
Dr Monika Buttkereit, IR: +49-6103-801-4406
Dirk Neumüller, PR: +49-6103-801-269