- Combination of Kiadis’ CD38 knock out K-NK cells with Sanofi’s anti-CD38 antibody Sarclisa® enables optimal tumor cell killing, and offers a potential first-in-class treatment for patients with multiple myeloma
- Kiadis receives €17.5 million up front payment; potential for up to €857.5 million in preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, and up to double-digit royalties
- Kiadis to hold conference call with investors and analysts at 16:00 CET today
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, July 8, 2020 – Kiadis Pharma N.V. (“Kiadis” or the “Company”) (Euronext Amsterdam and Brussels: KDS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative natural killer cell therapies for patients with life-threatening diseases, today announces the exclusive license of Kiadis’ previously undisclosed K-NK004 program to Sanofi. The agreement covers Kiadis’ proprietary CD38 knock out (CD38KO) K-NK therapeutic for combination with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies, including Sarclisa®, Sanofi’s recently approved therapy for patients with multiple myeloma. Additionally, Sanofi has obtained exclusive rights to use Kiadis’ K-NK platform for two undisclosed pre-clinical programs.
As part of the agreement, Kiadis will receive a €17.5 million up front payment and will be entitled to receive up to €857.5 million upon Sanofi’s achievement of preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones. Kiadis will also receive up to low double-digit royalties based on commercial sales of approved products resulting from this agreement.
Natural killer (NK) cells are the human body’s first line of defense against cancer and infections. Antibodies work synergistically with NK cells to kill tumor cells in a process called antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Treatment of multiple myeloma with anti-CD38 antibodies, such as Sarclisa®, deplete the patients’ own NK cells, as natural NK cells also express CD38. Kiadis’ CD38KO K-NK cells are NK cells that have been modified to prevent expression of CD38, and are thus resistant to this effect. Therefore, adjunctive infusion of CD38KO K-NK cells will reinvigorate the natural synergy between NK cells and antibodies to kill tumor cells, optimizing efficacy.
Arthur Lahr, chief executive officer of Kiadis, commented, “We are proud to announce this collaboration with Sanofi, which marks the start of the previously undisclosed K-NK004 program and expands the application of our K-NK platform into multiple myeloma. The agreement with Sanofi – with their world-class expertise and approved anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, Sarclisa, in multiple myeloma and deep understanding of NK-cell biology – is a testament to the groundbreaking potential of our K-NK natural killer cell platform to treat life-threatening diseases.”
John Reed, Global Head of Research and Development at Sanofi, commented, “The licensing of Kiadis’ CD38KO K-NK cells is particularly exciting for Sanofi since we will be studying this cell-based therapeutic with our recently FDA approved treatment for patients with difficult-to-treat multiple myeloma, in hopes of bringing even more options to these patients with this hematologic cancer. At Sanofi, we are committed to pioneering treatments that address unmet healthcare challenges. Innovative collaborations, such as this partnership with Kiadis, have the potential to expand the clinical benefits of our medicines by combining them with synergistic partnered therapeutics to deliver improved outcomes for patients.”
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