BioArctic AB announced a global exclusive license agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb for its PyroGlutamate-amyloid-beta (PyroGlu-Aβ) antibody program, which includes BAN1503 and BAN2803. Under the deal, Bristol Myers Squibb will oversee development and commercialization of the antibodies worldwide, with BioArctic receiving an upfront payment of $100 million and up to $1.25 billion in milestones. Additionally, BioArctic will earn tiered royalties and retains an option to co-commercialize in the Nordic region.
BioArctic’s PyroGlu-Aβ antibody program consists of novel antibodies targeting a specific truncated, pyroglutamate modified form of amyloid-beta. Monomers of PyroGlu-Aβ are highly prone to aggregate, leading to the formation of harmful aggregates which cause debilitating cognitive and other symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease.
The agreement includes both the BAN1503 and BAN2803 antibodies. BAN2803 includes BioArctic’s BrainTransporter technology. Brain uptake of biotherapeutics such as antibodies and enzymes is severely limited by the blood brain barrier (BBB) primarily due to their size. Active transport across the BBB, using one of the body’s own delivery mechanisms, aims to enable better drug uptake into the brain. The BrainTransporter technology utilizes the transferrin receptor (TfR), a protein facilitating transport across the BBB, to optimize brain delivery.
“I am very excited about the agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb. They share our passion for helping patients with Alzheimer’s disease and I look forward to having them as our partner for this program,” said Gunilla Osswald, CEO at BioArctic. “With the BrainTransporter technology, BioArctic has the capability to lead in the design and development of the next generation of treatments for various brain disorders, offering the potential of faster uptake, improved efficacy, less side effects and lower doses for the benefit of both patients and society.”
“Our agreement with BioArctic has the potential to further strengthen and diversify our growing neuroscience portfolio, reinforcing our commitment to exploring novel and potentially transformative approaches for Alzheimer’s disease where high unmet needs remain,” said Richard Hargreaves, Senior Vice President and Head of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Neuroscience Thematic Research Center. “We look forward to building on our existing expertise and leveraging cutting edge innovations, like BioArctic’s BrainTransporter technology, to advance and optimize the development of anti-amyloid-beta antibody treatments.”
The agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb is the first license agreement with the BrainTransporter technology. It specifically concerns PyroGlu-Aβ antibody treatments. BioArctic has retained all other rights for use of the BrainTransporter platform. The BrainTransporter technology could be used in a number of different therapy areas for delivery of biologic molecules, giving BioArctic many potential future partnering opportunities.
