Pentixapharm Acquires Target Discovery Business of Glycotope
03 Julio 2024 - 1:30AM
Pentixapharm AG, a clinical-stage biotech company discovering and
developing novel targeted radiopharmaceuticals against a range of
malignancies, has announced the execution of an agreement,
effective July 1st, to acquire the target discovery business of
Berlin-based Glycotope GmbH.
The deal encompasses a portfolio of preclinical
antibodies against multiple oncology targets that can be developed
into radiopharmaceuticals. It also includes Glycotope’s
laboratories, cell banks, tumor target data base, and the equipment
needed to exploit the discovery platform, along with a range of
patents, licenses, and other tangible assets. In total,
Pentixapharm will be able to add an integrated team of 40 seasoned
executives, R&D specialists, and administrators to its
staff.
“The acquisition will broaden Pentixapharm’s
Intellectual Property portfolio beyond the one built around the
CXCR4 receptor. This will immediately double the development
pipeline and significantly expand the associated business and
clinical development opportunities,” explained Hakim Bouterfa, CEO
of Pentixapharm AG. “Glycotope’s pipeline comprises several
candidates that can be used immediately for proof-of-concept
studies as next generation radiopharmaceuticals. We look forward to
maximizing the synergy of Pentixapharm’s know-how and Glycotope’s
target discovery for the benefit of patients in both diagnostics
and therapeutic applications.”
“The transaction provides Pentixapharm not just
with a chance to build a clinical pipeline beyond the company’s
current CXCR4-ligand based programs, but also substantially
strengthens its administrative and managerial capacities,” noted
Andreas Eckert, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of both
Pentixapharm and mother company Eckert & Ziegler SE (EZAG). “It
adds a critical number of talents to the planned secession of
Pentixapharm to Frankfurt Stock Exchange, thereby facilitating a
seamless separation from EZAG. The offices and laboratories
included in the deal are large enough to allow a consolidation of
all Berlin-based activities into one location.”
The transaction will also affect the composition
of the Pentixapharm Management Board once the
company becomes listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Hakim
Bouterfa, current CEO of Pentixapharm, is designated
to move to the Company’s Supervisory Board. He will be
succeeded by Dirk Pleimes, currently Pentixapharm’s Chief Medical
Officer. Patrik Kehler, former Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of
Glycotope, will assume the CSO position at Pentixapharm, while
Glycotope’s former CEO, Henner Kollenberg, will take over the
responsibility for administrative and business development issues
as Chief Business Officer.
Patrik Kehler, newly appointed Chief Scientific
Officer of Pentixapharm, explained: “The target discovery unit’s
development activities focus on tumor-associated carbohydrate
structures, so-called GlycoTargets. Their major advantage is the
reduced normal tissue binding compared to conventional antibodies.
Based on their superior tumor-specificity, they are suitable for
development in an array of different modes of action. In the
radiopharmaceuticals field, they have the potential to close the
treatment gap that exists for the majority of solid tumors.”
About the Glycotope Target Discovery
UnitThe target discovery unit utilizes a proprietary
technology platform to develop uniquely tumor-specific monoclonal
antibodies or fragments thereof. They target specific
tumor-associated carbohydrate structures or protein/carbohydrate
combined glycoepitopes (GlycoTargets). The unit has to date
discovered in excess of 200 GlycoTargets (www.glycotope.com). Many
of these have been outlicensed to major pharmaceutical companies
around the world, where they are currently in pre-clinical and
clinical development.
About Pentixapharm
AGPentixapharm is a radiopharmaceutical development
company founded in 2019 with its headquarters in Würzburg, Germany.
It is currently wholly owned by the Eckert & Ziegler Group but
bound to be spun-off to the Frankfort Stock Exchange soon.
Pentixapharm is committed to developing CXCR4 ligand-based
first-in-class radiopharmaceutical approaches with a clear
commercial pathway for diagnostic and therapeutic programs in a
number of hematological and solid cancers, as well as
cardiovascular, endocrine and inflammatory diseases.
Pentixapharm’s clinical pipeline encompasses
PENTIXATHER, am Yttrium-90 based therapeutic against CNS lymphoma,
and PENTIXAFOR, a Gallium-68 based companion diagnostic. Clinical
studies for both compounds have already commenced in Europe, with a
dose-finding study for PENTIXATHER and a Phase III registration
study for PENTIXAFOR. Additionally, PENTIXAFOR is being developed
as a diagnostic tool for primary aldosteronism (PA), a significant
cause of hypertension. Pentixapharm is currently preparing a US
centric Phase III registration study in PA that will start in
2025.
For more information, please
contact:
Eckert & Ziegler SEKarolin Riehle, Investor
RelationsRobert-Rössle-Str. 10,13125 Berlin, GermanyTel.: +49 30 /
94 10 84-138karolin.riehle@ezag.de, www.ezag.com
Pentixapharm AGPhillip Eckert, Investor
Relationsphillip.eckert@pentixapharm.comTel. +49 30 94 10 84
227www.pentixapharm.com
Media Contact:MC Services AGAnne Hennecke Tel. +49 211 529252
22anne.hennecke@mc-services.eu