CHENGDU, China, January 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (the “Company”) announced that the Company and HBM Holdings Limited (“Harbor BioMed”) (together with the Company, the “Licensors”), have entered into an exclusive license agreement (“License Agreement”) with Windward Bio AG (“Windward Bio”) for SKB378/HBM9378[1]monoclonal antibody (mAb) against thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) jointly developed by the Licensors.
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the License Agreement, Windward Bio is granted an exclusive license to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize SKB378/HBM9378 globally (excluding Greater China and several countries in Southeast and West Asia). In return, Licensors are entitled to receive a total of up to 970 million dollars advance payments and payments as well as single to double digit multiple royalties on net sales of SKB378/HBM9378. The 45 million US dollars upfront payments and short-term payments include both cash consideration and equity in parent company Windward Bio. Subject to the terms and conditions of the License Agreement, Licensors are also eligible to receive an additional payment from Windward Bio if Windward Bio undergoes a short-term change of control or enters into a sublicense agreement with a third party. Payments to be made by Windward Bio to Licensors under the License Agreement shall be paid in equal amounts to the Company and Harbor BioMed.
Windward Bio is a clinical drug development company dedicated to improving outcomes for people living with advanced immune conditions with an initial focus on severe respiratory conditions. Led by a highly experienced team of biopharmaceutical executives with deep expertise in discovery, development and commercialization, it is advancing a potentially best-in-class TSLP monoclonal antibody in Phase 2 development and creating novel, long-acting bispecific programs for immune diseases. Together, they have contributed to more than 15 product launches and executed two Nasdaq IPOs and two sales.
In connection with the License Agreement, Windward Bio has published a 200 million US dollars Series A funding round led by OrbiMed, New Holdings and Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities with co-investment by SR One, Omega Funds, RTW Investments, Qiming Venture Partners, Quan Capitaland Pivotal bioVenture Partners.
dr. Michael GeCEO of Kelun-Biotech, said: “We are pleased to partner with Windward Bio for SKB378/HBM9378, one of our pioneer products in the field of immunology, which is not only proof of its potential market value globally, but also the practice of our active global collaboration SKB378/HBM9378 is our first immunologic product licensed by NewCo.In the future, we will continue to expand our global presence and strategic partnerships to maximize the value of our pipelines.”
About SKB378/HBM9378
SKB378/HBM9378 is a joint development project jointly conducted by the Company and Harbor BioMed, with both parties sharing global rights equally. SKB378/HBM9378 is a novel, recombinant fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds strongly to the TSLP ligand and inhibits the TSLP-mediated signaling pathway by blocking the interaction between TSLP and the TSLP receptor. This is a well-established cytokine that plays a key role in the development and progression of a wide range of immune conditions, including asthma and COPD where inhibition has shown benefit in a wide range of inflammatory phenotypes. SKB378/HBM9378 is designed to achieve extended half-life and effector silencing and is administered subcutaneously.
IN November 2024IND application for Drug Evaluation Center (CDE) of National Medical (TASE:) Product Management (NMPA) has been submitted for SKB378/HBM9378 for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The company has also completed a phase 1 clinical trial in healthy subjects in the China under IND approval by NMPA for the treatment of moderate to severe asthma.
About KELUN-BIOTECH
Kelun-Biotech (6990.HK) is a holding subsidiary of Kelun Pharmaceutical (TADAWUL:) (002422.SZ), which focuses on research and development, manufacturing, commercialization and global collaboration of innovative biological and small molecule drugs. The company focuses on major disease areas such as solid tumors, autoimmune, inflammatory and metabolic diseases, and on establishing a globalized drug development and industrialization platform to address unmet medical needs in China and the rest of the world. The company is committed to becoming a leading global company in the field of innovative medicines. Currently, the Company has more than 30 ongoing key innovative drug projects, of which 2 projects have been approved for marketing, 2 projects are in the NDA phase, and more than 10 projects are in the clinical phase. The company has established one of the world’s leading proprietary ADC platforms, OptiDC™, and has 1 ADC project approved for marketing, 1 ADC project in the NDA phase, and multiple ADC or new ADC projects in clinical or preclinical research. For more information, visit https://kelun-biotech.com/.
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[1] SKB378 is known as HBM9378 in the Harbor BioMed project and WIN378 in the Windward Bio project.
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