OPKO Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPK) and Entera Bio Ltd. (NASDAQ: ENTX),
a leader in the development of oral peptides and proteins
replacement therapies, entered into a collaboration and license
agreement to advance into the clinic the first oral dual agonist
GLP-1/glucagon peptide as a once-daily tablet treatment for
patients with obesity, metabolic and fibrotic disorders. The
program combines OPKO’s proprietary long-acting oxyntomodulin
analog (OPK-88006) and Entera’s proprietary N-Tab™ technology.
Favorable pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic and bioavailability data
in vivo were reported in September 2024. The companies expect to
file an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) later this year.
Under the terms of the agreement, OPKO and
Entera will hold 60% and 40% pro-rata ownership interests,
respectively, in the program and be responsible for 60% and 40% of
the program’s development costs, respectively. In connection with
the execution of the agreement, OPKO purchased 3,685,226 ordinary
shares of Entera for a purchase price equal to $2.17 per share.
Entera has agreed to utilize the proceeds from the sale of the
shares to fund its 40% share of costs through Phase 1 of the
development program. Following the completion of the Phase 1 stage,
Entera has the option to continue to fund its 40% share to maintain
its pro-rata ownership interest of the program. Should Entera
opt-out, Entera will retain a 15% ownership interest in the Oral
OXM program, while OPKO will retain 85% and be responsible for
ongoing development activities and funding of the program.
“We are pleased to continue working with Entera
on this promising program to develop the first oral GLP-1/glucagon
dual agonist in addition to our subcutaneous injectable dual
agonist GLP-1/glucagon program. Our goal with this franchise is to
provide additional options for patients with obesity, metabolic and
fibrotic diseases,” said Phillip Frost, M.D., Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of OPKO.
“We have enjoyed our synergistic partnership
with OPKO. This expanded collaboration on the
GLP-1/glucagon program reinforces our shared vision to develop
first in class differentiated oral peptide treatments for patients
to better manage their health,” said Miranda Toledano, Entera Chief
Executive Officer.
Oxyntomodulin is a naturally occurring
GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist peptide hormone found in the small
intestine that acts to suppress appetite, induce weight loss and
has additional cardioprotective and anti-fibrotic attributes.
OPK-88006 is a GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist peptide that has been
modified to maintain its long-acting profile while increasing its
potential potency. Currently, there are no approved dual
GLP-1/glucagon agonists available.
About Entera Bio
Entera is a clinical stage company focused on
developing oral peptide and protein replacement therapies for
significant unmet medical needs where an oral tablet form holds the
potential to transform the standard of care. The Company leverages
on a disruptive and proprietary technology platform (N-Tab™) and
its pipeline includes five differentiated, first-in-class oral
peptide programs targeting PTH(1-34), GLP-1 and GLP-2. The
Company’s most advanced product candidate, EB613 (oral PTH(1-34)),
is being developed as the first oral, osteoanabolic (bone building)
once-daily tablet treatment for post-menopausal women with low
BMD and high-risk osteoporosis. A placebo controlled, dose-ranging
Phase 2 study of EB613 tablets (n=161) met primary (PD/bone
turnover biomarker) and secondary endpoints (BMD). Entera is
preparing to initiate a Phase 3 registrational study for EB613
pursuant to the FDA’s qualification of a quantitative BMD endpoint.
The EB612 program is being developed as the first oral PTH(1-34)
tablet peptide replacement therapy for hypoparathyroidism. Entera
is also developing the first oral oxyntomodulin, a dual targeted
GLP-1/glucagon peptide, in tablet form for the treatment of
obesity; and first oral GLP-2 peptide tablet as an injection-free
alternative for patients suffering from rare malabsorption
conditions such as short bowel syndrome in collaboration with OPKO
Health. For more information on Entera Bio, visit www.enterabio.com
or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.
About OPKO Health
OPKO Health is a multinational biopharmaceutical
and diagnostics company that seeks to establish industry-leading
positions in large, rapidly growing markets by leveraging its
discovery, development and commercialization expertise, and its
novel and proprietary technologies. For more information, visit
www.opko.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward
Looking StatementsVarious statements in this press release
are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements (other
than statements of historical facts) in this press release,
including those regarding our prospects, plans, financial position,
business strategy and expected financial and operational results,
may constitute forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not
limited to, “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “expect,”
“estimate,” “design,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “might,”
“objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “likely,”
“should,” “will” and “would,” or the negative of these terms and
similar expressions or words, identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that
involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and
uncertainties. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a
guarantee of future performance or results and may not be accurate
indications of when such performance or results will be
achieved.
Important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those reflected in Entera’s and
OPKO’s forward-looking statements include, among others: changes in
the interpretation of clinical data; results of our clinical
trials; the FDA’s interpretation and review of our results from and
analysis of our clinical trials; unexpected changes in our ongoing
and planned preclinical development and clinical trials, the timing
of and our ability to make regulatory filings and obtain and
maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates; the
potential disruption and delay of manufacturing supply chains; loss
of available workforce resources, whether by Entera, OPKO or their
respective collaboration and laboratory partners; impacts to
research and development or clinical activities that Entera or OPKO
may be contractually obligated to provide; overall regulatory
timelines; the size and growth of the potential markets for our
product candidates; the scope, progress and costs of developing our
product candidates; the parties’ reliance on third parties to
conduct clinical trials; Entera’s and OPKO’s expectations regarding
licensing, business transactions, including OPKO’s development
efforts should Entera opt-out, and strategic collaborations;
Entera’s operation as a development stage company with limited
operating history; Entera’s ability to continue as a going concern
absent access to sources of liquidity; Entera’s ability to comply
with Nasdaq’s minimum listing standards and other matters related
to compliance with the requirements of being a public company in
the United States; Entera’s and OPKO’s intellectual property
positions and their ability to protect their respective
intellectual property; and other factors that are described in the
“Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk
Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” sections of each of Entera’s
and OPKO’s most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the
SEC, as well as the companies’ respective subsequently filed
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
There can be no assurance that the actual results or developments
anticipated by Entera and OPKO will be realized or, even if
substantially realized, that they will have the expected
consequences to, or effects on, Entera or OPKO, as applicable.
Therefore, no assurance can be given that the outcomes stated or
implied in such forward-looking statements and estimates will be
achieved. Entera and OPKO caution investors not to rely on the
forward-looking statements made in this press release. The
information in this press release is provided only as of the date
of this press release, and neither Entera nor OPKO undertakes any
obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.
Contacts:
Entera BioMiranda ToledanoChief
Executive Officermiranda@enterabio.com
OPKO HealthAlliance Advisors
IRYvonne Briggs, 310-691-7100ybriggs@allianceadvisors.com
or
Bruce Voss,
310-691-7100bvoss@allianceadvisors.com
Opko Health (NASDAQ:OPK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2025 to Mar 2025
Opko Health (NASDAQ:OPK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Mar 2025