NewLink Genetics Corporation announced that the company has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Ellipses Pharma Limited for the development of and rights to commercialize NLG207, a nanoparticle formulation of the topoisomerase 1 inhibitor camptothecin.
AMES, Iowa, Dec. 23, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NewLink Genetics Corporation (NASDAQ:NLNK) announced today that the company has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Ellipses Pharma Limited (Ellipses) for the development of and rights to commercialize NLG207 (formerly CRLX101), a nanoparticle formulation of the topoisomerase 1 inhibitor camptothecin. This license agreement signed by NewLink Genetics and Ellipses is effective as of December 17, 2019. Under the terms of the agreement, Ellipses purchased NewLink’s inventory of NLG207 related materials, and NewLink will have the potential to receive future royalty payments or a share of any future economics related to NLG207. As part of the license agreement, Ellipses also gained the rights to develop and commercialize CRLX-301, a nanoparticle formulation of docetaxel that has completed a Phase 1a study.
“We are pleased to announce today this license agreement with Ellipses for NLG207, a compound which showed encouraging Phase 2 results in refractory ovarian cancer as presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference in April 2019,” commented Eugene Kennedy, MD, Chief Medical Officer and member of NewLink’s Office of the CEO. “We are delighted that this agreement provides a path forward for this promising agent while allowing NewLink to focus on our core priorities.”
Dr. Rajan Jethwa, Chief Executive Officer and a founder of Ellipses, commented: “We are excited to have reached an agreement with NewLink on a worldwide license for NLG207. Our Scientific Affairs Group confirmed that this compound has shown some encouraging signs in Phase 2 trials and has the potential to improve the standard of care for patients with ovarian cancer that recurs after initial treatment.” Dr Jethwa continued, “Our dedicated clinical trials team is eager to rapidly progress the development of this compound for patients suffering from a devastating disease and who currently have relatively few treatment options.”
About Ellipses Pharma Limited
Ellipses Pharma is a global drug development company focused exclusively on the development of innovative cancer medicines and treatments. Ellipses’ world class management team leverages the experience and expertise of one of the world’s largest cancer-focused key opinion leader groups to select, in-license and fund development of the most promising scientific discoveries. Its worldwide reach and asset-focused approach transforms the clinical trials’ process to make the very best drugs and therapies available to patients with cancer at speed. For more information, please visit https://ellipses.life/.
About NewLink Genetics Corporation
NewLink Genetics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that has historically focused on developing novel immunotherapeutic products for the treatment of patients with cancer. On September 30, 2019, NewLink announced its intent to merge with Lumos Pharma, a private clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company targeting rare and neglected diseases. At the close of the proposed merger, the combined company will operate as Lumos Pharma focused on Lumos’ sole product candidate, LUM-201 (ibutamoren), an oral growth hormone (GH) secretagogue targeting pediatric growth hormone deficiency (PGHD) and other rare endocrine disorders. If approved, LUM-201 has the potential to represent the first orally administered growth hormone stimulating therapy for a subset of PGHD patients, an established market where daily recombinant human growth hormone injections represent the current standard-of-care treatment regimen. For more information, please visit www.NewLinkGenetics.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements of NewLink Genetics that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “forecast,” “projected,” “guidance,” “upcoming,” “will,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “approximate,” “expect,” “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding future royalty payments, milestones or other economic interests; and any other statements other than statements of historical fact. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that NewLink Genetics makes due to a number of important factors, risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements are discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in NewLink Genetics’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 and other reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent NewLink Genetics’ views as of the date of this press release. NewLink Genetics anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while it may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing NewLink Genetics’ views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
Investor & Media Contact:
Lisa Miller
Director of Investor Relations
NewLink Genetics
515-598-2555
lmiller@linkp.com
Source: NewLink Genetics Corporation
