The anti-C5aR antibody, IPH5401, is a brainchild of the multinational pharma company, Novo Nordisk. It is their Cancer drug which has just wrapped up its phase I clinical trial and is believed to have tremendous potential in Cancer treatment.
A deal was cut between Novo Nordisk and the French drug maker Innate Pharma which involves the firm Innate Pharma paying Novo Nordisk €40 million (approximately $45 million) upfront for the global rights to develop as well as commercialize the latter’s anti-C5aR antibody (designated IPH5401); in exchange for this drug deal, Novo Nordisk gets a major stake in the company.
This deal also displays Innate pharms bulls-eye strategic capability as its BMS-partnered checkpoint inhibitor lirilumab failed in the phase II of clinical trials earlier this year. The company also has another 12 drugs in clinical trials, including another checkpoint inhibitor, monalizumab, as part of a partnership with AstraZeneca.
“We believe anti-C5aR has a high potential for cancer patients in multiple indications and look forward to beginning clinical development of this promising asset in 2018,” said Mr.Mondher Mahjoubi, M.D., Innate Pharma’s CEO. “Innate Pharma has a strong track record of value creation from in-licensed assets with lirilumab and monalizumab. This acquisition strengthens
our asset base further and supports Innate Pharma’s transition toward becoming a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company.”Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, Ph.S., D.Sc., CSO at Novo Nordisk, added, “In light of Innate’s success within the immuno-oncology field, we believe that Innate is the ideal partner for the anti-C5aR program, and we are looking forward to seeing the program advance further in development.”
