Innate Pharma acquires full rights to ANTI-NKG2A checkpoint inhibitor from Novo Nordisk A/S
February 5, 2014
Novo Nordisk to reinforce its equity stake in Innate Pharma
Marseille, France and Bagsværd, Denmark, 5 February 2014
Anti-NKG2A is a first-in-class therapeutic mAb that is Phase II ready
NKG2A is a NK and T cell checkpoint relevant in both inflammatory disorders and immuno-oncology
Innate Pharma will prioritize development of anti-NKG2A in immuno-oncology and trials are expected to start in 2014
Agreement subject to approval by Innate’s shareholders on March 27, 2014
Innate Pharma SA and Novo Nordisk A/S today announce that Innate Pharma has acquired full development and commercialization rights to the anti-NKG2A antibody, a first-in-class immune checkpoint inhibitor ready for Phase II development in oncology from Novo Nordisk.
Novo Nordisk conducted a large Phase I safety trial with anti-NKG2A in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, demonstrating a good safety profile for both iv and sc routes at single and multiple administrations. Novo Nordisk has decided to advance other compounds for further development in inflammation, including anti-NKG2D , currently in Phase II development and generated within the collaboration between Innate Pharma and Novo Nordisk.
Novo Nordisk will receive 2 million euros in cash and 600,000 shares for licencing anti-NKG2A to Innate and be eligible to a total of 20 million euros in potential registration milestones and single-digit tiered royalties on future sales. The acquisition of the Innate shares is subject to approval by Innate’s shareholders’ at an extraordinary general meeting on 27 March 2014.
