FibroGen Exercises Exclusive License Option for HiFiBiO’s CCR8 Program
December 20 2021 - 8:00AM
FibroGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: FGEN), a leading biopharmaceutical company
discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class
therapeutics, and HiFiBiO Therapeutics, a private, multinational
clinical-stage biotherapeutics company with expertise in immune
modulation and single cell science, today announced an extension of
their partnership with FibroGen’s exercise of an exclusive license
option for HiFiBiO’s anti-CCR8 monoclonal antibody program
(HFB1011).
“We are pleased to add the HiFiBiO CCR8 program and the
HFB101110 molecule to our preclinical development pipeline,” said
John Hunter, Chief Scientific Officer, FibroGen. “With this
addition in the immuno-oncology space, we have the exciting
opportunity to further expand our early development pipeline.”
“We are excited to strengthen our FibroGen partnership with the
license of HFB1011, a unique program targeting CCR8, a GPCR majorly
expressed on regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Our
antibody, identified by using our single B cell cloning platform,
is another demonstration of our Drug Intelligent Science (DIS™)
approach for novel drug discovery and development. Together with
the Galectin-9 program (HFB2009), we expand our collaboration with
FibroGen to develop transformative medicines in immuno-oncology,”
said Liang Schweizer, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, HiFiBiO.
Under the terms of the agreement, HiFiBiO will receive a $35
million upfront payment from FibroGen in addition to potential
clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones. HiFiBiO will also
be eligible to receive royalties based upon net sales.
FibroGen will have the sole right to develop all products in the
CCR8 program worldwide. The development candidate is expected to
enter clinical development in 2023.
About CCR8 CCR8 is a GPCR with prevalent and
highly specific expression on immunosuppressive tumor infiltrating
regulatory T cells (Tregs) across different tumor types.
Stimulation of CCR8 by its ligand results in proliferation of Tregs
and immune-suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Targeting
CCR8 with an antibody able to mediate cell killing through
antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) offers the
potential to selectively deplete highly immunosuppressive Tregs in
the tumor microenvironment and promote anti-tumor immunity.
About FibroGenFibroGen, Inc. is a
biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and
commercializing a pipeline of first-in-class therapeutics. The
Company applies its pioneering expertise in hypoxia-inducible
factor (HIF) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) biology to
advance innovative medicines for the treatment of unmet needs. The
Company is currently developing and commercializing roxadustat, an
oral small molecule inhibitor of HIF prolyl hydroxylase activity
for anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), anemia
associated with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and for
chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA). Pamrevlumab, an anti-CTGF human
monoclonal antibody, is in clinical development for the treatment
of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), locally advanced
unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC), and Duchenne muscular
dystrophy (DMD). FibroGen recently expanded its research and
development portfolio to include product candidates in the
immuno-oncology and autoimmune space. For more information, please
visit www.fibrogen.com.
About HiFiBiO TherapeuticsHiFiBiO Therapeutics
is transforming the field of immunotherapy by combining proprietary
single-cell profiling technologies with advanced data intelligence
and deep knowledge of immune system biology. This approach enables
the development of novel antibody therapies that are paired with
biomarkers to predict patient response. HiFiBiO Therapeutics is
working actively to address unmet medical needs around the world
through its own innovative pipeline programs and open-innovation
partnerships with world-renowned industry and academic researchers.
The company’s strong global footprint features cutting-edge
laboratories on three continents, in Cambridge, Mass., Paris,
Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong. To learn more, please visit
www.hifibio.com.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains
forward-looking statements regarding our strategy, future plans and
prospects, including statements regarding the development and
commercialization of the company’s product candidates, our
development programs and regulatory events and related timelines
and potential future payments to be made. These forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our
plans, objectives, representations and contentions and are not
historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such
as “may,” “will”, “should,” “on track,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,”
“anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,”
“continue” and similar words, although some forward-looking
statements are expressed differently. Our actual results may differ
materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements
due to risks and uncertainties related to the continued progress
and timing of our various programs, including the enrollment and
results from ongoing and potential future clinical trials, and
other matters that are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and our Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for quarter ended September 30, 2021 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risk
factors set forth therein. Investors are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation
to update any forward-looking statement in this press release,
except as required by law.
Contacts:FibroGen, Inc.
Investors:Michael Tung, M.D.Corporate Strategy
/ Investor Relations415.978.1434mtung@fibrogen.com
Media:Meichiel KeenanAssociate Director, Public
Affairsmkeenan@fibrogen.com
Contacts:HiFiBiO
Therapeutics
Investors/Media:Vincent
Tse617.395.1212media@hifibio.com
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