Takeda and Affilogic Enter into Research Collaboration

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) and Affilogic today jointly announced that the companies have entered into a research collaboration to explore using Affilogic’s proprietary Nanofitins® platform in therapies targeting the central nervous system. Specifically, Affilogic and Takeda, through its research center in San
Diego, California, will leverage their respective competencies to validate and optimize Nanofitins® that enable Takeda to deliver biotherapeutic candidates into the brain to address neurological disorders.
“Takeda has world class expertise in central nervous system drug
discovery and we are very enthusiastic to work together to develop
innovative biotherapeutics for the treatment of a number of neurological
diseases,” said Olivier Kitten, Chief Executive Officer of Affilogic.
“Takeda is a partner of choice for Affilogic to significantly expand the
number of research programs relying on our Nanofitins® platform
advancing into clinical trials.”
“The collaboration with Affilogic provides Takeda with an excellent
opportunity to accelerate its modality diversification into biologics by
utilizing the innovative Nanofitin® technology that Affilogic has
developed,” commented Dr. Ceri Davies, Head of Takeda’s Central Nervous
System Drug Discovery.
Nanofitins® are potent antibody-mimetics, exhibiting high affinity and
specificity for capture, targeting and interaction with biomolecules.
They can be easily conjugated to other moieties, such as antibodies,
small molecules, and nanoparticles, to empower third parties’ molecules,
their very small size triggering low impact on the natural properties of
such payload.
Under the terms of the agreement, Affilogic will receive an upfront
payment and research funding, and is eligible to receive additional
development and sales milestone payments and royalties by Takeda. Takeda
will be entitled to commercialize worldwide products incorporating
Affilogic Nanofitins® resulting from the collaboration. Further details
of the agreement were not disclosed.
About Takeda
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:
4502) is a global, R&D-driven pharmaceutical company committed to
bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating
science into life-changing medicines. Takeda focuses its research
efforts on oncology, gastroenterology and central nervous system
therapeutic areas. It also has specific development programs in
specialty cardiovascular diseases as well as late-stage candidates for
vaccines. Takeda conducts R&D both internally and with partners to stay
at the leading edge of innovation. New innovative products, especially
in oncology, central nervous system and gastroenterology, as well as its
presence in emerging markets, fuel the growth of Takeda. More than
30,000 Takeda employees are committed to improving quality of life for
patients, working with our partners in health care in more than 70
countries.
For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com/news.
About Affilogic
Affilogic is a privately-owned biotech company specialized in discovery
and development of a novel class of targeting ligands called
Nanofitins®. Nanofitins® demonstrate many small molecule-like attributes
such as a very small size (7 kDa, around 20 times smaller than a
monoclonal antibody), an extreme robustness and a better tissue
penetration. Deriving from a naturally hyperstable scaffold, Nanofitins®
are resistant to temperature and pH, stable to proteases, spontaneously
refolding… Nanofitins® are produced by simple, scalable, GMP- compliant
bacterial fermentation at very attractive costs or by chemical synthesis.
Affilogic has designed Nanofitins® against 50+ targets to date,
including a wide range of circulating antigens (peptides, proteins),
membrane receptors for inhibition / modulation / translocation, and
complex entities (Virus-like Particles, bacteria, whole cells).
Nanofitin®-based drugs are currently being developed in collaboration
with Sanofi, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and other undisclosed
pharmaceutical companies. Several early-stage programs are currently
exploring

– (i) non-injectable administration of Nanofitins®
– (ii)
Nanofitin®-Drug Conjugates
– (iii) multifunctional Nanofitins®

Affilogic designs and develops Nanofitins® through early-stage
collaborations.
For more information, please visit www.affilogic.com.
Takeda’s Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements.”
Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements
of historical fact, including plans, strategies and expectations for the
future, statements regarding the expected timing of filings and
approvals relating to the transaction, the expected timing of the
completion of the transaction, the ability to complete the transaction
or to satisfy the various closing conditions, future revenues and
profitability from or growth or any assumptions underlying any of the
foregoing. Statements made in the future tense, and words such as
“anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “continue,” “believe,” “plan,”
“estimate,” “pro forma,” “intend,” “potential,” “target,” “forecast,”
“guidance,” “outlook,” “seek,” “assume,” “will,” “may,” “should,” and
similar expressions are intended to qualify as forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and
assumptions made by management that are believed to be reasonable,
though they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Investors
and security holders are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results or experience to differ materially from that
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Some of these
risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: required
regulatory approvals for the transaction may not be obtained in a timely
manner, if at all; the conditions to closing of the transaction may not
be satisfied; competitive pressures and developments; applicable laws
and regulations; the success or failure of product development programs;
actions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; changes in
exchange rates; and claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy
of marketed products or product candidates in development.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak
only as of the date of this press release, and neither Affilogic nor
Takeda undertakes any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking
statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances
after the date of the forward-looking statement. If one or more of these
statements is updated or corrected, investors and others should not
conclude that additional updates or corrections will be made.