Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobi™) (STO:SOBI) and Selecta Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SELB) today announced that the companies have entered into a strategic licensing agreement for the product candidate SEL-212. SEL-212 is a combination of Selecta’s tolerogenic ImmTOR immune tolerance platform and a therapeutic uricase enzyme
STOCKHOLM, Sweden and WATERTOWN, Mass., June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobi™) (STO:SOBI) and Selecta Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SELB) today announced that the companies have entered into a strategic licensing agreement for the product candidate SEL-212. SEL-212 is a combination of Selecta’s tolerogenic ImmTOR immune tolerance platform and a therapeutic uricase enzyme (pegadricase) that is designed to durably control serum uric acid, reduce immunogenicity, and allow for repeated monthly dosing for the treatment of chronic refractory gout.
Gout is an autoinflammatory disease that causes intensely painful flares and debilitating inflammatory arthritis due to deposition of pro-inflammatory monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in synovial fluid and other tissues. Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in the US and prevalence in both US and Europe is rising. Chronic refractory gout occurs in patients who do not respond to conventional therapies and therefore suffer from high tissue MSU-burden that can cause frequent gout flares and chronic arthritis. The chronic refractory gout market is estimated to be worth at least USD 1 billion in sales in the US alone.
SEL-212 has the potential to reduce serum uric acid and MSU deposits in patients with chronic refractory gout. SEL-212 is a combination therapy comprised of pegadricase, a recombinant enzyme that metabolizes uric acid, and ImmTOR, a platform technology. Recombinant uricases are highly immunogenic in humans, and SEL-212, through Selecta’s proprietary ImmTOR platform, has the potential to mitigate the formation of anti-drug antibodies, thereby enabling convenient once-monthly dosing and improving the efficacy and tolerability of the uricase. The phase 3 program is expected to commence in 2H 2020.
“SEL-212 is a unique, late-stage product candidate containing a novel enzyme and a potentially ground-breaking immune tolerance platform, which could significantly improve the treatment for patients with chronic refractory gout, a debilitating disease with significant unmet need,” said Guido Oelkers, Chief Executive Officer of Sobi. “This product candidate is highly differentiated based on the ImmTOR technology and has the potential to become a significant product in our growing Immunology business, and we are excited to become a shareholder and partner of Selecta.”
“This agreement represents an important milestone for Selecta, and for patients with chronic refractory gout, as Sobi is the ideal partner with the commitment, resources, and complementary product portfolio to advance SEL-212 through development and commercialization,” said Carsten Brunn, Ph.D., President and CEO of Selecta. “This transaction further demonstrates our ability to execute on strategic business development, and provides Selecta with significant non-dilutive capital and cost savings, allowing the company to focus on utilizing its pioneering ImmTOR immune tolerance platform to potentially improve the efficacy of biologics, enable re-dosing of life-saving gene therapy, and create novel immunotherapies for autoimmune diseases”.
About the transaction
Under the terms of the license agreement, Sobi will assume responsibility for development, regulatory, and commercial activities for SEL-212 in all markets outside of China. Sobi will make initial payments to Selecta of USD 100 million, which include USD 75 million up-front license fee and USD 25 million in a private placement of shares of Selecta common stock. Selecta is eligible to receive potential milestone payments of up to USD 630 million from Sobi, which are dependent upon specific regulatory and development targets having been met, as well as sales thresholds. Additionally, Selecta is eligible to receive tiered double-digit royalties on net sales.
Sobi and Selecta have entered into a share purchase agreement, pursuant to which Sobi will invest USD 25 million in a private placement of 5,416,390 shares of Selecta common stock at a purchase price of USD 4.62 per share (representing a 20% premium to the volume weighted average price over the 10 days prior to signing).
The transaction is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary closing conditions.
Sobi intends to finance the considerations above by available funds.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is acting as legal advisor to Selecta and Latham & Watkins LLP is acting as legal advisor to Sobi on the transaction.
About Selecta Biosciences, Inc.
Selecta Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on utilizing its pioneering ImmTOR immune tolerance platform for the potential to improve the efficacy of biologics, enable re-dosing of life-saving gene therapy, and create novel immunotherapies for autoimmune diseases. Selecta is based in Watertown, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.selectabio.com.
About Sobi
Sobi is a specialised international biopharmaceutical company transforming the lives of people with rare diseases. Sobi is providing sustainable access to innovative therapies in the areas of haematology, immunology and specialty indications. Today, Sobi employs approximately 1,400 people across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Russia and North Africa. In 2019, Sobi’s revenues amounted to SEK 14.2 billion. Sobi’s share (STO:SOBI) is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. You can find more information about Sobi at www.sobi.com.
The shares to be sold in the private placement transaction have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), or any state securities laws, and will be sold in a private placement pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Selecta has agreed, subject to certain terms and conditions, to file one or more registration statements under the Securities Act covering the resale of shares of common stock sold pursuant to the share purchase agreement.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the shares, nor shall there be any sale of the shares in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state. Any offering of the shares under the resale registration statement will only be by means of a prospectus.
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about the future expectations, plans and prospects of Selecta Biosciences, Inc. (“the company”), including without limitation, statements regarding the clinical development, commercialization, and regulatory activities related to SEL-212 by either the company or Sobi, including with respect to anticipated geographic markets, the anticipated timing of the planned Phase 3 clinical trial, the potential market opportunity for SEL-212, the potential of SEL-212 to fulfill unmet needs in chronic refractory gout patients including sustained SUA reduction, reduced flares, and repeated once monthly dosing, as well as the ability to dose longer than the current standard of care, the company’s and Sobi’s commercial plans, the expected upfront, milestone, and royalty-based payments to the company under the strategic licensing agreement with Sobi, the anticipated closing of the investment by Sobi in the company’s common stock in connection with the share purchase agreement, the ability of the company’s ImmTOR platform, including SEL-212, to unlock the full potential of biologic therapies, the potential of SEL-212 to treat chronic refractory gout patients and resolve their debilitating symptoms, the potential treatment applications for product candidates utilizing the ImmTOR platform in areas such as enzyme therapy and gene therapy, the Company’s ability to re-dose patients and the potential of ImmTOR to allow for re-dosing, the potential of the ImmTOR technology platform generally and the company’s ability to grow its strategic partnerships, the company’s development of a product candidate to treat an autoimmune indication, and other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hypothesize,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, but not limited to, the following: the uncertainties inherent in the initiation, completion and cost of clinical trials including their uncertain outcomes, the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on any of the company’s planned or ongoing clinical trials, manufacturing activities, supply chain and operations, including the company’s ability to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial for SEL-212 or to initiate a clinical trial in any of its gene therapy programs, the availability and timing of data from ongoing and future clinical trials and the results of such trials, whether preliminary results from a particular clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of that trial or whether results of early clinical trials will be indicative of the results of later clinical trials, the unproven approach of the company’s ImmTOR technology, undesirable side effects of the company’s product candidates, the company’s reliance on third parties to manufacture its product candidates and to conduct its clinical trials who could be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak or could otherwise materially fail to perform, failure to identify additional product candidates and develop or commercialize marketable products, including SEL-212, the company’s inability to maintain its existing or future collaborations, licenses or contractual relationships, Sobi’s ability to perform its obligations under the strategic licensing agreement, Sobi’s ability to make upfront, milestone and royalty-based payments, Sobi’s ability to invest in the company’s common stock, the company’s inability to protect its proprietary technology and intellectual property, management’s ability to perform as expected, potential delays in regulatory approvals, the availability of funding sufficient for its foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, the company’s recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows from operations raise substantial doubt regarding its ability to continue as a going concern, substantial fluctuation in the price of its common stock, and other important factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, and in other filings that the company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the company’s views only as of the date of its publication and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The company specifically disclaims any intention to update any forward-looking statements included in this press release.
Contacts:
Sobi
Paula Treutiger, Head of Communication & Investor Relations
+ 46 733 666 599
paula.treutiger@sobi.com
Linda Holmström, Corporate Communication & Investor Relations
+ 46 708 734 095
linda.holmstrom@sobi.com
Selecta
Media:
Joshua R. Mansbach
Solebury Trout
+1-646-378-2964
jmansbach@soleburytrout.com
Investors:
Lee M. Stern
Solebury Trout
+1-646-378-2922
lstern@soleburytrout.com
