BioInvent International and CASI Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. biopharmaceutical company with an established clinical development and commercial infrastructure in China, have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for the development and commercialization of novel anti-FcγRIIB antibody, BI-1206, in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

“BioInvent will receive a $5 million upfront payment and is eligible to receive up to $83 million in development and commercial milestone payments.”

Under the terms of the agreement, BioInvent and CASI will develop BI-1206 in both liquid and solid cancers, with CASI responsible for commercialization in China and associated markets. BioInvent will receive a $5 million upfront payment and is eligible to receive up to $83 million in development and commercial milestone payments plus tiered royalties in the high-single to mid-double-digit range on net sales of BI-1206.

An additional $7 million investment

Under the terms of the agreement, as part of the upfront payment, CASI will also make a $7 million investment (SEK 61,436,200) in 29,395,311 new shares in BioInvent at a subscription price of SEK 2.09 per share, which corresponds to 130 % of the average volume weighted price for the share during the ten trading days prior to 27 October, and 14,697,655  new warrants (at no separate option premium), each warrant with a right to subscribe for an equal number of new shares in BioInvent within a period of five years and at a subscription price of SEK 3.14  per share. The investment is subject to the approval of an Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting in BioInvent to be held on 27 November 2020, announced by way of separate press release. If approved, it is expected that the new shares will be admitted to trade on or about 4 December 2020.

BI-1206

BI-1206 has a novel mode-of-action, blocking the single inhibitory antibody checkpoint receptor FcγRIIB to unlock anti-cancer immunity in both liquid and solid tumors. BI-1206 is BioInvent’s lead drug candidate and is being investigated in a Phase I/II trial, in combination with anti-PD1 therapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in solid tumors, and in a Phase I/IIa trial in combination with MabThera (rituximab) for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

“Leveraging CASI’s capabilities in this major market adds significant shareholder value to our overall program.”

“CASI Pharmaceuticals is a proven leader in China and we look forward to leveraging their clinical development and regulatory expertise to accelerate the development and commercialization preparations for BI-1206. Their established commercial infrastructure and medical marketing team, and their wide access to a strong network of investigators across Greater China, make them an ideal partner to expand our global development footprint in this important region. Leveraging CASI’s capabilities in this major market adds significant shareholder value to our overall program,” says Martin Welschof, CEO, BioInvent.

Photo of Martin Welschof: BioInvent