BioNTech Acquires MabVax Therapeutics’ Antibody Assets to Expand Portfolio
Under the terms of the agreement, BioNTech has acquired MabVax Therapeutics lead candidate, MVT-5873, as well as other pre-clinical antibody assets to expand and complement its existing antibody portfolio and proprietary RiboMABS development capabilities.
BioNTech SE, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on
patient-specific immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and other
serious diseases, announced today the acquisition of antibody assets and
infrastructure from San Diego-based MabVax Therapeutics Holding, Inc.
(Nasdaq: MBVX), a clinical-stage oncology drug development company.
Under the terms of the agreement, BioNTech has acquired MabVax
Therapeutics’ lead candidate, MVT-5873, as well as other pre-clinical
antibody assets to expand and complement its existing antibody portfolio
and proprietary RiboMABS development capabilities. The acquired lead
asset is currently in Phase 1 clinical development in pancreatic cancer
and has been tested in 35 patients with initial positive interim data
announced in February 2018. MVT-5873 is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal
antibody targeting sialyl Lewis A (sLea), an epitope expressed in
pancreatic and other GI cancers that plays a role in tumor adhesion and
metastasis formation.
“BioNTech’s vision is to identify and provide the best therapeutic
options for each individual cancer patient. To make this possible, we
are developing and integrating complementary technologies and drug
modalities into our overall portfolio of treatment approaches,” said
Prof. Dr. Ugur Sahin, CEO of BioNTech. “MabVax Therapeutics has
developed an antibody with a novel mode of action in a disease
indication that complements our pipeline expansion plans. This
clinical-stage antibody together with the other pre-clinical assets that
we have acquired from MabVax Therapeutics enhance our antibody
portfolio, which also benefits from our ongoing collaboration with
Genmab and the acquisition of MAB Discovery earlier this year.”
In conjunction with the agreement, BioNTech has purchased MabVax
Therapeutics’ infrastructure and laboratory equipment with the intention
of establishing a research facility in San Diego. The location is
advantageous for BioNTech’s planned US-based clinical trials and will
further support production of the Company’s investigational treatments.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
About BioNTech
BioNTech SE is Europe’s largest privately-held biopharmaceutical company
pioneering the development of precision immunotherapies for
individualized treatment of cancer and prevention of infectious
diseases. The company combines all building blocks for more precise and
individualized immunotherapies under one roof – from diagnostics and
drug development to manufacturing. Its cutting-edge technologies range
from individualized mRNA-based product candidates through innovative
chimeric antigen receptors and T-cell receptor-based compounds to novel
checkpoint immunomodulators and small molecules. BioNTech’s product
development approach has been validated by seven corporate partnerships
with, in chronological order, Genmab, Eli Lilly and Company, Sanofi,
Bayer Animal Health, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Genevant
and Pfizer, and its scientific approach through over 60 peer-reviewed
scientific publications. Founded in 2008, BioNTech’s financial
shareholders include the Struengmann Family Office as its majority
shareholder, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Invus, Janus
Henderson Investors, MIG Fonds, Redmile Group, Salvia and several
European family offices. For more information, please see: www.biontech.de.
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