US-based Immunomic Therapeutics Inc. and Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. have entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement to the LAMP-vax products for the treatment or prevention of all allergic diseases in humans.
The LAMP-vax technology enhances the effectiveness of DNA vaccines. It has the ability to make DNA vaccines work, which potentially enables effective vaccinations for a wide spectrum of diseases.
In January 2015, Immunomic Therapeutics and Astellas entered into an exclusive license agreement for Japan to develop and commercialize ASP4070 (previously known as JRC2-LAMP-vax) designed to treat allergies induced by Japanese red cedar pollen.
Astellas initiated a phase I trial of ASP4070 in Japan this year. Irrespective of the new agreement, this initial agreement remains in effect. Astellas has now acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize any potential LAMP-vax products designed to treat or prevent human allergic diseases, including, among other things, ARA-LAMP-vax for the treatment or prevention of peanut allergy as well as other research-stage programs for food or environmental allergies.
Upon execution of the new agreement, Immunomic Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment of $300 million and be entitled to receive 10% royalties of net sales of the potential products. The impact of this transaction on Astellas' financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 will be immaterial, indicated the statement.
