Ipsen (Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY), a global biopharmaceutical group, and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced a global licensing and joint development agreement for a pre-clinical oncology drug candidate discovered by researchers in MD Anderson’s Institute for Applied Cancer Science (IACS).
MD Anderson will progress the drug candidate through Phase I clinical development with Ipsen being responsible for further global development and commercialization.
Alexandre Lebeaut, M.D., Executive Vice President, Research & Development and Chief Scientific Officer, Ipsen, commented, “We are very pleased to partner with the IACS at the MD Anderson Cancer Center whose reputation in scientific excellence and clinical care in Oncology is outstanding. Through this collaboration, we aim to synergize IACS’ scientific expertise with Ipsen’s drug development capabilities to deliver innovative therapies more rapidly to patients in need, and advance patient care in Oncology”
MD Anderson and Ipsen also will collaborate to conduct additional pre-clinical studies to further explore the potential of the drug candidate’s mode-of-action and expanded indications. The detailed financial terms of the agreement, including development and commercial milestones and royalties, have not been disclosed.
“We believe this partnership has the potential to deliver a new therapeutic option to our patients,” said Stephen Hahn, M.D., chief medical executive at MD Anderson. “This focus on accelerating the development of efficient treatments is vital to our mission of ending cancer and to providing the very best care we can to those who need it most.”
About MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution's sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No.1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" survey. It has ranked as one of the nation's top two hospitals for cancer care since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first 13 times in the last 16 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).
Ipsen Forward Looking Statement
The forward-looking statements, objectives and targets contained herein are based on the Group’s management strategy, current views and assumptions. Such statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated herein. All of the above risks could affect the Group’s future ability to achieve its financial targets, which were set assuming reasonable macroeconomic conditions based on the information available today. Use of the words "believes," "anticipates" and "expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, including the Group’s expectations regarding future events, including regulatory filings and determinations. Moreover, the targets described in this document were prepared without taking into account external growth assumptions and potential future acquisitions, which may alter these parameters. These objectives are based on data and assumptions regarded as reasonable by the Group. These targets depend on conditions or facts likely to happen in the future, and not exclusively on historical data. Actual results may depart significantly from these targets given the occurrence of certain risks and uncertainties, notably the fact that a promising product in early development phase or clinical trial may end up never being launched on the market or reaching its commercial targets, notably for regulatory or competition reasons. The Group must face or might face competition from generic products that might translate into a loss of market share. Furthermore, the Research and Development process involves several stages each of which involves the substantial risk that the Group may fail to achieve its objectives and be forced to abandon its efforts with regards to a product in which it has invested significant sums. Therefore, the Group cannot be certain that favourable results obtained during pre-clinical trials will be confirmed subsequently during clinical trials, or that the results of clinical trials will be sufficient to demonstrate the safe and effective nature of the product concerned. There can be no guarantees a product will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that the product will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the Group's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the Group’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. The Group also depends on third parties to develop and market some of its products which could potentially generate substantial royalties; these partners could behave in such ways which could cause damage to the Group’s activities and financial results. The Group cannot be certain that its partners will fulfil their obligations. It might be unable to obtain any benefit from those agreements. A default by any of the Group’s partners could generate lower revenues than expected. Such situations could have a negative impact on the Group’s business, financial position or performance. The Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements, targets or estimates contained in this press release to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. The Group’s business is subject to the risk factors outlined in its registration documents filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers.
The risks and uncertainties set out are not exhaustive and the reader is advised to refer to the Group’s 2017 Registration Document available on its website (www.ipsen.com).
Contacts
IPSEN
Media
Ian Weatherhead, +44 (0) 1753 627733
Vice President, Corporate External Communications
ian.weatherhead@ipsen.com
or
Marisol Peron, Tel.: +1 908-275-6330
Vice President, NA Communications
E-mail: marisol.peron@ipsen.com
or
Brigitte Le Guennec, +33 (0)1 58 33 51 17
Senior Manager, Global External Communications
brigitte.le.guennec@ipsen.com
or
Financial Community
Eugenia Litz, +44 (0) 1753 627721
Vice President, Investor Relations
eugenia.litz@ipsen.com
or
Myriam Koutchinsky, +33 (0)1 58 33 51 04
Investor Relations Manager
myriam.koutchinsky@ipsen.com
or
MD Anderson
Ron Gilmore
Work : 713-745-1898
Email : rlgilmore1@mdanderson.org
