UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of August 2023
Commission File Number: 001-36622
PROQR THERAPEUTICS N.V.
Zernikedreef 9
2333 CK Leiden
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 88 166 7000
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone
Number,
Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F
x Form 40-F ¨
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On July 31, 2023, ProQR
Therapeutics N.V. (“ProQR”), ProQR Therapeutics I B.V., ProQR Therapeutics II B.V. and ProQR Therapeutics IV B.V. (collectively,
the “Company”) entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Laboratoires Théa S.A.S.
(“Théa”), pursuant to which the Company will divest its late stage ophthalmic assets, sepofarsen and ultevursen, to
Théa. Through the divestment of its sepofarsen and ultevursen assets, ProQR is pursuing its previously-announced shift in strategic
focus and resources to the development of its Axiomer® RNA editing technology platform and continued advancement of its pipeline programs,
AX-0810 and AX-1412, with an initial focus on targets for cholestatic and cardiovascular diseases.
Under the terms of the Agreement,
the Company will receive an initial payment of €12.5 million and will also be eligible to receive up to €135 million in further
development, regulatory, and commercial payments, as well as additional earn outs of up to high teens percentage based on commercial sales
in the United States and the European Union. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023, subject to the satisfaction
of certain closing conditions and covenants. The Agreement includes various representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and other
customary provisions.
The foregoing summary of the
Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Agreement, a copy of which
will be filed as an exhibit no later than the filing of ProQR’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ending December 31,
2023. ProQR intends to seek confidential treatment from the Securities and Exchange Commission for certain portions of the Agreement.
On August 1, 2023, ProQR
issued a press release titled, “ProQR Therapeutics and Laboratoires Théa Announce Agreement for Théa to Acquire ProQR’s
Sepofarsen and Ultevursen Ophthalmic Assets,” announcing the entry into the Agreement. A copy of the press release is attached hereto
as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
ProQR hereby incorporates
by reference the information contained herein into ProQR’s registration statements on Form F-3 (File No. 333-270943, File
No. 333-263166, File No. 333-260775 and File No. 333-248740).
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This Report of Foreign Private
Issuer on Form 6-K includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking
statements, which are often indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate,"
"expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to", "may," "plan," "potential,"
"predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions. Such forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding this divestment, the potential payments and earnouts arising out of the
divestment, as well as the potential of our technologies and product candidates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's
beliefs and assumptions and on information available to management only as of the date of this report. Our actual results could differ
materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including, without limitation, the risks, uncertainties
and other factors in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including certain sections of our annual report filed
on Form 20-F. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the clinical development activities to be performed by Théa
and the condition of successful market access for sepofarsen and ultevursen; the cost, timing and results of preclinical studies and other
development activities by us and our collaborative partners whose operations and activities may be slowed or halted shortage and pressure
on supply and logistics on the global market; our reliance on contract manufacturers or suppliers to supply materials for research and
development and the risk of supply interruption or delays from suppliers or contract manufacturers; the ability to secure, maintain and
realize the intended benefits of collaborations with partners, including the collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company; the possible impairment
of, inability to obtain, and costs to obtain intellectual property rights; possible safety or efficacy concerns that could emerge as new
data are generated in research and development; and general business, operational, financial and accounting risks, and risks related to
litigation and disputes with third parties. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes
available in the future, except as required by law.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| |
PROQR THERAPEUTICS N.V. |
| |
|
| Date: August 1, 2023 |
By: |
/s/ René Beukema |
| |
|
René Beukema |
| |
|
Chief Corporate Development Officer and General Counsel |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit 99.1
ProQR Therapeutics and Laboratoires
Théa Announce Agreement for Théa to Acquire ProQR’s Sepofarsen and Ultevursen Ophthalmic Assets
Agreement
provides ProQR with initial payment of €12.5M and up to €135M in further payments, as well as potential additional earn outs
based on commercial sales in the US and EU
Divestment
of sepofarsen and ultevursen supports ProQR’s strategic focus on the Axiomer® RNA editing technology platform and continued
advancement of pipeline programs, AX-0810 and AX-1412, focused on genetic diseases originating in the liver
LEIDEN, Netherlands, CAMBRIDGE, Mass.,
and CLERMONT FERRAND, France, August 1, 2023 – ProQR Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq: PRQR) (ProQR), a company dedicated to changing
lives through transformative RNA therapies, and Laboratoires Théa, the leading independent eye care group in Europe (“Théa”),
today announced an agreement in which ProQR will divest its late stage ophthalmic assets, sepofarsen and ultevursen, to Théa.
Under the terms of the agreement, ProQR
will receive an initial payment of €12.5M and will also be eligible for up to €135M in further development, regulatory, and
commercial payments, as well as additional earn outs up to high teens percentage based on commercial sales in the US and EU.
“Théa’s proven expertise
in the research, development, and commercialization of eye care products makes them the ideal company to continue the development of
sepofarsen and ultevursen for patients with rare genetic eye diseases,” said Daniel A. de Boer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
of ProQR. “We look forward to continuing to advance our Axiomer RNA editing platform, with an initial focus on targets for cholestatic
and cardiovascular diseases, as we seek to develop a new class of therapies for patients with high unmet need.”
“For nearly 30 years, Théa
has been committed to bringing the most modern and diverse range of innovative ophthalmic products to the market for the benefits of
eye care practitioners and patients. We are very excited to continue the development of sepofarsen and ultevursen for patients,”
said Jean-Frédéric Chibret, President of the Théa group. “These two programs can deliver hope for patients
suffering from retinal diseases that lead to blindness. We look forward to returning these assets into the clinic.”
Within Théa, a fully dedicated
team specializing in inherited retinal disorders and a new organization are currently being set up to manage these two projects. More
information on the next steps for these programs will be available in the coming weeks from Théa.
ProQR’s financial advisor is Lazard,
with Allen & Overy acting as legal advisor. Théa’s legal advisor is Dentons. The transaction is expected to close
in the third quarter of 2023, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions.
About ProQR
ProQR Therapeutics is dedicated to changing
lives through the creation of transformative RNA therapies. ProQR is pioneering a next-generation RNA technology called Axiomer®,
which uses a cell’s own editing machinery called ADAR to make specific single nucleotide edits in RNA to reverse a mutation or
modulate protein expression and could potentially yield a new class of medicines for both rare and prevalent diseases with unmet need.
Based on our unique proprietary RNA repair platform technologies we are growing our pipeline with patients and loved ones in mind.
Learn more about ProQR at www.proqr.com.
About Théa
Théa is the leading independent
European pharmaceutical company specialized in the research, development, and commercialization of eye care products. Based in Clermont-Ferrand,
France, this family-owned and run company comprises more than 1700 collaborators and has expanded by opening more than 35 affiliates
and offices in Europe, North Africa, North and South America, and the Middle East. Its products are available in 75 countries. In 2022,
Théa’s turnover reached $941 million.
Learn more about Théa at https://www.laboratoires-thea.com.
About Sepofarsen
Sepofarsen (QR-110) is an investigational
RNA therapy designed to restore vision in Leber congenital amaurosis 10 due to the c.2991+1655A>G mutation (p.Cys998X) in the CEP290
gene. The mutation leads to aberrant splicing of the mRNA and non-functional CEP290 protein. Sepofarsen is designed to enable normal
splicing, resulting in restoration of normal (wild type) CEP290 mRNA and subsequent production of functional CEP290 protein. Sepofarsen
is intended to be administered through intravitreal injections in the eye and has been granted orphan drug designation in the United
States and the European Union and received fast-track designation and rare pediatric disease designation from the FDA as well as access
to the PRIME scheme by the EMA.
About Ultevursen
Ultevursen
(formerly QR-421a) is a first-in-class investigational RNA therapy designed to address the underlying cause of vision loss in Usher syndrome
type 2a and non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa due to mutations in exon 13 of the USH2A gene.
QR-421a is designed to restore functional usherin protein by using an exon skipping approach with the aim to stop or reverse vision loss
in patients. Ultevursen is intended to be administered through intravitreal injections in the eye and has been granted orphan drug designation
in the US and the European Union and received fast-track and rare pediatric disease designations from the FDA.
About Axiomer®
ProQR is pioneering a next-generation
RNA base editing technology called Axiomer®, which could potentially yield a new class of medicines for diverse types of diseases.
Axiomer® “Editing Oligonucleotides”, or EONs, mediate single nucleotide changes to RNA in a highly specific and targeted
way using molecular machinery that is present in human cells called ADAR (Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA). Axiomer® EONs are designed
to recruit and direct endogenously expressed ADARs to change an Adenosine (A) to an Inosine (I) in the RNA – an Inosine
is translated as a Guanosine (G) – correcting an RNA with a disease-causing mutation back to a normal (wild type) RNA, modulating
protein expression, or altering a protein so that it will have a new function that helps prevent or treat disease.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms
such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend,"
"look forward to", "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should,"
"will," "would" and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements
regarding this divestment, the potential payments and earnouts arising out of the divestment, the expected timing for the closing of
the divestment, the further development of sepofarsen and ultevursen, as well as the potential of our technologies and product candidates.
Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information available to management only as of the
date of this press release. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for
many reasons, including, without limitation, the risks, uncertainties and other factors in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including certain sections of our annual report filed on Form 20-F. These risks and uncertainties include, among others,
the clinical development activities to be performed by Théa and the condition of successful market access for sepofarsen and ultevursen;
the cost, timing and results of preclinical studies and other development activities by us and our collaborative partners whose operations
and activities may be slowed or halted shortage and pressure on supply and logistics on the global market; our reliance on contract manufacturers
or suppliers to supply materials for research and development and the risk of supply interruption or delays from suppliers or contract
manufacturers; the ability to secure, maintain and realize the intended benefits of collaborations with partners, including the collaboration
with Eli Lilly and Company; the possible impairment of, inability to obtain, and costs to obtain intellectual property rights; possible
safety or efficacy concerns that could emerge as new data are generated in research and development; and general business, operational,
financial and accounting risks, and risks related to litigation and disputes with third parties. Given these risks, uncertainties and
other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking
statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as required by law.
For ProQR Therapeutics N.V.
Investor contact:
Sarah Kiely
ProQR Therapeutics N.V.
T: +1 617 599 6228
skiely@proqr.com
or
Hans Vitzthum
LifeSci Advisors
T: +1 617 430 7578
hans@lifesciadvisors.com
Media contact:
Robert Stanislaro
FTI Consulting
T: +1 212 850 5657
robert.stanislaro@fticonsulting.com
For Théa
Julie Ahmed
Communications Manager
Julie.ahmed@theapharma.com
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