AstraZeneca and Abgenix Announce Strategic Alliance to Discover and Develop Antibody Therapeutics for Cancer
Thursday October 16, 8:05 am ET
AstraZeneca makes $100 million upfront equity investment to broaden oncology research scope; Abgenix to receive milestone, royalty and collaboration payments
LONDON & FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2003-- AstraZeneca and Abgenix, Inc. (Nasdaq:ABGX - News) announced today that they have entered into a broad collaboration, license and investment alliance to discover, develop and commercialize fully human monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer. The alliance involves:
* The joint discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies for up to 36 cancer targets to be commercialized exclusively worldwide by AstraZeneca. For these products, Abgenix will receive milestone payments at various stages of development and royalties on future product sales. In addition, the collaboration will involve the selection and development of an additional pool of antibodies by Abgenix, which the companies may elect to further develop on an equal cost and profit sharing basis.
* For those product candidates for which AstraZeneca holds exclusive commercialization rights, Abgenix will conduct early clinical trials, process development and clinical manufacturing, as well as commercial manufacturing during the first five years of commercial sales. AstraZeneca will compensate Abgenix for those activities at competitive market rates.
* A $100 million investment by AstraZeneca in Abgenix convertible preferred stock, initially convertible into Abgenix common stock at $30 per share. Upon the achievement of certain milestones, Abgenix may also require AstraZeneca to invest an additional $60 million in Abgenix convertible preferred stock.
AstraZeneca may select initial antibodies from Abgenix's existing preclinical oncology portfolio and both companies will also propose additional targets for selection. AstraZeneca will be responsible for late stage clinical development of the portfolio and will hold worldwide commercialization rights for any resulting products. Upon commercialization, royalties will be paid to Abgenix on sales of products that result from the collaboration. The royalty range will vary from product to product based on the level of product sales.
The alliance also includes a co-development component under which Abgenix will generate additional antibody product candidates that AstraZeneca will have the option to co-develop with Abgenix. The companies will share development costs and responsibilities for any co-development candidates selected.
"This collaboration further strengthens our position at the forefront of cancer research, allowing us to combine our oncology development expertise and leading sales and marketing capabilities with Abgenix's expertise in the discovery, early development and manufacture of fully human antibodies. This alliance adds to our proven expertise with small molecules and has the potential to significantly broaden and strengthen AstraZeneca's oncology pipeline," said Sir Tom McKillop, Chief Executive of AstraZeneca.
"This alliance reinforces the value of our antibody development platform and enables the next wave of oncology products beyond our lead candidate ABX-EGF," said Raymond Withy, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Abgenix. "By partnering with AstraZeneca, a global leader in oncology research and development, we take a major step towards bringing a portfolio of highly targeted and effective cancer drugs to patients," Withy continued.
The consummation of the collaboration and license agreement and the issuance of the convertible preferred stock to AstraZeneca are subject to customary closing conditions, including without limitation the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
A conference call with executives from both companies will be held on Thursday, October 16 at 6:00 AM PT, 2:00 PM BST to discuss today's announcement. The call will be webcast live and available for replay on Abgenix's website at www.abgenix.com. Participants can access the call by dialing 1-800-884-5695 (toll free from the US) or 617-786-2960 providing passcode 57176006 |
