GSK Licenses EUSA Antibody

GlaxoSmithKline has licensed exclusive world-wide rights to EUSA Pharma, Inc.’s preclinical human anti-interleukin-6 antibody for a consideration of as much as $44 million, which includes an upfront fee, development milestones and royalties on future sales. As part of the agreement, EUSA will pay approximately half of this total amount to its development partner, Vaccinex, Inc. GSK will be responsible for all future development, production and commercialization of the product.
   
Interleukin-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and B-cell growth factor and acts as a resistance factor to standard chemotherapy. EUSA’s product, OP-R003, is the first fully human anti-interleukin-6 antibody — which has the potential to offer improved tolerability and safety profile — with target indications in oncology and inflammatory diseases.
   
EUSA acquired OP-R003 as part of the company’s 2007 acquisition of OPi SA. OPi had previously entered into a development collaboration with Vaccinex for OP-R003 as a therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and lymphoma.
   
“The out-licensing of this early-stage antibody is another strategic milestone for EUSA, as we continue to focus our business on marketed and late-stage products in the oncology, pain control and critical care areas,” said Bryan Morton, chief executive officer of EUSA Pharma.
   
Brian McVeigh, GSK’s worldwide business development director of M&A strategy and transactions, said, “Interleukin-6 is increasingly recognized as an important biological target in a range of diseases, and consequently OP-R003 has great potential to meet a number of unmet medical needs.”