Effimune Announces Global Licence Agreement with Janssen

Effimune, a biotech company dedicated to the discovery and development of drugs which regulate the immune system in autoimmune disease and transplantation, has announced a global option and licence agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen). The collaboration between Effimune, the London Innovation Centre of Johnson & Johnson Innovation and the Janssen Immunology Therapeutic Area is focused on the development and commercialisation of FR104, a monoclonal antibody fragment in preclinical development for the treatment of immune-mediated disorders.

A number of preclinical studies with FR104 are ongoing across a panel of autoimmune diseases models, including models of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis, as well as in kidney transplantation models. Interim data were reported in 2012 at the American Transplant Congress annual meeting and at the Seventh European Workshop on Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases and oral presentations will be presented at the upcoming 11th World Inflammation Congress in September, along with several other poster presentations.

Under the terms of the agreement, Effimune grants Janssen an exclusive option to develop FR104. Janssen will make success-based milestone payments as well as pre-specified royalty payments on worldwide net sales upon commercialization of FR104.

“This agreement is an opportunity to bring a new form of therapy to patients with immune disorders,” said Maryvonne Hiance, Chairman of Effimune. “FR104 opens a new avenue in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and of transplanted patients, by promoting immune tolerance,” indicates Bernard Vanhove, Senior Scientific Advisor at Effimune and co-inventor of FR104.