Imugene management was well aware of the safety issues surrounding Azer-cel.
IMO, the payments due under the license will be paid by issuing Imugene shares in lieu of cash.
ASX announcement - Imugene Licenses Allogeneic CD19 CAR T
Imugene MD & CEO, Ms Leslie Chong said, “Azer-cel has one of the most extensive clinical
data sets for a CD19 directed allogeneic cell therapy, a fast-to-market development
strategy and a potential registration-enabling clinical trial in 2024 for patients with 3rd
and 4th line DLBCL. We plan to complete the ongoing multi-centre Phase 1b
(ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03666000) study using the recommended Phase 2 regimen as
we prepare for the start of a potential registrational study at the earliest opportunity. We
are very excited as azer-cel has the potential to be the first approved allo CAR T.”
IMUGENE LIMITED ACN 009 179 551 2
Ms Chong said, “By adding azer-cel to the Imugene pipeline, our onCARlytics program will
form the foundation of a novel and broadened approach to cell therapy. CD19 is a well
validated clinical target in blood cancers. OnCARlytics can enhance the expression of
CD19 on solid tumours. Azer-cel is a supercharged allogeneic T cell designed to identify
and kill malignant cells expressing CD19. We are thrilled about the potential benefit for
patients from the combination of these two technologies.”
In the ongoing multi-centre Phase 1b clinical trial that includes 84 patients with nonHodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), azer-cel
demonstrated clinically meaningful activity with an acceptable safety profile. Notably, the
azer-cel data were especially strong in patients with DLBCL who had relapsed following
auto CAR T therapy. Azer-cel achieved 83% Overall Response Rate (ORR), 61% Complete
Response (CR) Rate with 55% durable response greater than or equal to six months in this
difficult to treat auto CAR T relapse setting (n=18). It is estimated that 60-70% of patients
treated with an approved auto CD19 CAR T cell therapy such as Kymriah, Yescarta or
Breyanzi will unfortunately have cancer progression or recurrence.
In the broader group of patients with relapsed/refractory NHL, irrespective of prior
treatment with auto CAR T cell therapy, azer-cel showed encouraging response rates and
an acceptable safety profile with a 58% ORR and 41% CR rate across all doses and
lymphodepletion (chemotherapy) regimens.
Additionally, no Grade 3 or greater cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector
cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), infection or graft versus host disease
was observed in the most recent cohort with the appropriate lymphodepletion treatment.
Azer-cel continues to demonstrate promising results in DLBCL patients who relapsed
following CAR T, and high overall response rates with molecular remissions in this patient
setting are encouraging. Based on this dataset, azer-cel has the potential to improve
outcomes in this large and growing population with high unmet need.
IMUGENE LIMITED ACN 009 179 551 3
A positive meeting was held with the FDA in June 2023 to seek guidance for entering a
Phase 2 registration study. Further, chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC)
discussions have gone well with the FDA and the intended commercial azer-cel product
will be tested in the clinic and will be utilized in the potential registrational clinical trial.
Under the terms of the licence agreement, Imugene acquires the exclusive world-wide
rights to develop and commercialize the azer-cel technology in oncology for which it has
agreed to pay Precision Biosciences:
• US$8 million cash and US$13 million deferred consideration on closing. The deferred
consideration has a term of 12 months and may be converted into shares and/or
redeemed for cash at the election of Imugene.
• US$8 million on satisfactory completion of the Phase 1b clinical trial shortly to
commence. Imugene may elect to pay by the issue of Imugene shares.
• Up to US$198 million performance-based payments over the development life of
azer-cel linked to the achievement of certain value-inflection development
milestones, including approval in multiple indications and sales in US and EU
• Industry standard royalties on net sales.
Imugene will also acquire the lease to a state-of-the art 32,800 sq feet GMP
manufacturing facility in North Carolina, drug material for completion of a Phase 1b clinical
trial and a highly experienced cell therapy and manufacturing team of approximately 50
personnel.
All cash payments to initiate the licence agreement will be funded through Imugene’s
existing cash reserves with the option to make some payments in Imugene equity, should
Imugene elect to do so. Imugene will pay an introduction fee of US$3 million to Chimeric
Therapeutics Limited in connection with the transaction.
IMUGENE LIMITED ACN 009 179 551 4
Ms. Chong continued, “We are confident in our understanding of product composition,
dosing, activity, and safety. Based on recent discussions with the FDA, we believe there is
rationale to advance azer-cel into a potential registrational study for patients already
treated with auto CAR T as early as 2024. This accelerated development timeline would
position azer-cel to be the first FDA-approved allogeneic CAR T therapy for blood
cancers.”
Regards.
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