-- Amendment enhances productive year with CABOMETYX™
regulatory approvals and commercial launches in the United States and
European Union
-- Exelixis to receive $10 million upfront payment, with
subsequent regulatory and commercial milestones
PARIS & SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 21, 2016--
Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) and Ipsen (Euronext:IPN; ADR:IPSEY) today
jointly announced an amendment to the exclusive collaboration and
licensing agreement for the commercialization and continued development
of cabozantinib, to include commercialization rights in Canada for Ipsen
where Ipsen has an established business (Mississauga, Ontario). Signed
in February 2016, the original agreement gave Ipsen exclusive
commercialization rights for current and potential future cabozantinib
indications outside of the United States, Canada and Japan. Following
the amendment, Exelixis maintains exclusive rights for cabozantinib in
the United States and Japan, and is continuing discussions with
potential partners for commercial rights in Japan.
Under the terms of the amendment, Exelixis will receive a $10 million
upfront payment. Exelixis is eligible to receive regulatory milestones,
for the approvals of cabozantinib in Canada for advanced renal cell
carcinoma (RCC) after prior treatment, for first-line RCC, and advanced
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as additional regulatory
milestones for potential further indications. In line with the prior
transaction between the parties, the agreement also includes commercial
milestones and provides for Exelixis to receive tiered royalties on
Ipsen’s net sales of cabozantinib in Canada.
“Exelixis and Ipsen have made significant progress together since
signing our collaboration and licensing agreement in February, and
considering the substantial business resources that Ipsen has in Canada,
amending the terms to grant Ipsen Canadian rights is a natural next
step,” said Michael M. Morrissey, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive
Officer of Exelixis. “Over the past nine months, CABOMETYX received
regulatory approval for advanced RCC in the United States as well as the
European Union, where Ipsen recently began launching the product. Our
collaboration with Ipsen is strong, and we look forward to continued
progress as they pursue approval and commercialization in Canada.”
David Meek, Chief Executive Officer of Ipsen, said, “Gaining commercial
rights for CABOMETYX in Canada expands our geographic footprint and
strengthens our Oncology franchise in North America, one of our key
geographic regions and main drivers of growth. This announcement follows
numerous advancements in the CABOMETYX program, including the recent
approval in Europe. We are now focused on a successful European launch
and are pleased to offer advanced renal cell carcinoma patients a new
treatment option supported by a strong clinical profile. We look forward
to continue working with our partner Exelixis to advance the
cabozantinib program.”
CABOMETYX was approved in the European Union (EU) on September 9, 2016
for the treatment of RCC in adults following prior vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy. Ipsen is currently initiating the
launch of CABOMETYX in the EU. The regulatory filing in Canada is
expected in 2017, with regulatory approval anticipated in early 2018.
About CABOMETYX™
CABOMETYX is the tablet formulation of cabozantinib. Its targets include
MET, AXL and VEGFR-1, -2 and -3. In preclinical models, cabozantinib has
been shown to inhibit the activity of these receptors, which are
involved in normal cellular function and pathologic processes such as
tumor angiogenesis, invasiveness, metastasis and drug resistance.
CABOMETYX is available in 20 mg, 40 mg or 60 mg doses. The recommended
dose is 60 mg orally, once daily.
On April 25, 2016, the FDA approved CABOMETYX tablets for the treatment
of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who have received prior
anti-angiogenic therapy. On September 9, 2016, the European Commission
approved CABOMETYX tablets for the treatment of advanced renal cell
carcinoma in adults who have received prior vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy in the European Union, Norway and Iceland.
About Exelixis’ Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Ipsen
In February 2016, Exelixis granted Ipsen exclusive commercialization
rights for current and potential future cabozantinib indications outside
of the United States, Canada and Japan. On 20 December 2016, Exelixis
granted Ipsen the commercial and development rights for cabozantinib in
Canada. As provided in their agreement, Exelixis and Ipsen are also
collaborating on the development of cabozantinib for current and
potential future indications.
About Ipsen
Ipsen is a global specialty-driven pharmaceutical group with total sales
exceeding €1.4 billion in 2015. Ipsen sells more than 20 drugs in more
than 115 countries, with a direct commercial presence in more than 30
countries. Ipsen’s ambition is to become a leader in specialty
healthcare solutions for targeted debilitating diseases. Its fields of
expertise cover oncology, neurosciences and endocrinology (adult &
pediatric). Ipsen’s commitment to oncology is exemplified through its
growing portfolio of key therapies improving the care of patients
suffering from prostate cancer, bladder cancer and neuro-endocrine
tumors. Ipsen also has a significant presence in primary care. Moreover,
the Group has an active policy of partnerships. Ipsen's R&D is focused
on its innovative and differentiated technological platforms, peptides
and toxins, located in the heart of the leading biotechnological and
life sciences hubs (Les Ulis/Paris-Saclay, France; Slough/Oxford, UK;
Cambridge, US). In 2015, R&D expenditure totaled close to €193 million.
The Group has more than 4,600 employees worldwide. Ipsen’s shares are
traded on segment A of Euronext Paris (stock code: IPN, ISIN code:
FR0010259150) and eligible to the “Service de Règlement Différé”
(“SRD”). The Group is part of the SBF 120 index. Ipsen has implemented a
Sponsored Level I American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program, which trade
on the over-the-counter market in the United States under the symbol
IPSEY. For more information on Ipsen, visit www.ipsen.com.
About Exelixis
Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq:EXEL) is a biopharmaceutical company committed to
the discovery, development and commercialization of new medicines with
the potential to improve care and outcomes for people with cancer. Since
its founding in 1994, three medicines discovered at Exelixis have
progressed through clinical development to receive regulatory approval.
Currently, Exelixis is focused on advancing cabozantinib, an inhibitor
of multiple tyrosine kinases including MET, AXL and VEGF receptors,
which has shown clinical anti-tumor activity in more than 20 forms of
cancer and is the subject of a broad clinical development program. Two
separate formulations of cabozantinib have received regulatory approval
to treat certain forms of kidney and thyroid cancer and are marketed for
those purposes as CABOMETYX™ tablets (U.S. and EU) and
COMETRIQ® capsules (U.S. and EU), respectively. Another
Exelixis-discovered compound, COTELLIC® (cobimetinib), a
selective inhibitor of MEK, has been approved in major territories
including the United States and European Union, and is being evaluated
for further potential indications by Roche and Genentech (a member of
the Roche Group) under a collaboration with Exelixis. For more
information on Exelixis, please visit www.exelixis.com
or follow @ExelixisInc on Twitter.
Ipsen - Forward Looking Statement
The forward-looking statements, objectives and targets contained herein
are based on the Group’s management strategy, current views and
assumptions. Such statements involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or events to
differ materially from those anticipated herein. All of the above risks
could affect the Group’s future ability to achieve its financial
targets, which were set assuming reasonable macroeconomic conditions
based on the information available today. Use of the words "believes,"
"anticipates" and "expects" and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements, including the Group’s expectations
regarding future events, including regulatory filings and
determinations. Moreover, the targets described in this document were
prepared without taking into account external growth assumptions and
potential future acquisitions, which may alter these parameters. These
objectives are based on data and assumptions regarded as reasonable by
the Group. These targets depend on conditions or facts likely to happen
in the future, and not exclusively on historical data. Actual results
may depart significantly from these targets given the occurrence of
certain risks and uncertainties, notably the fact that a promising
product in early development phase or clinical trial may end up never
being launched on the market or reaching its commercial targets, notably
for regulatory or competition reasons. The Group must face or might face
competition from generic products that might translate into a loss of
market share. Furthermore, the Research and Development process involves
several stages each of which involves the substantial risk that the
Group may fail to achieve its objectives and be forced to abandon its
efforts with regards to a product in which it has invested significant
sums. Therefore, the Group cannot be certain that favourable results
obtained during pre-clinical trials will be confirmed subsequently
during clinical trials, or that the results of clinical trials will be
sufficient to demonstrate the safe and effective nature of the product
concerned. There can be no guarantees a product will receive the
necessary regulatory approvals or that the product will prove to be
commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or
risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially
from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Other risks and
uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry
conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest
rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of
pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation; global
trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new
products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new
product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the
Group's ability to accurately predict future market conditions;
manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of
international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the
effectiveness of the Group’s patents and other protections for
innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent
litigation, and/or regulatory actions. The Group also depends on third
parties to develop and market some of its products which could
potentially generate substantial royalties; these partners could behave
in such ways which could cause damage to the Group’s activities and
financial results. The Group cannot be certain that its partners will
fulfil their obligations. It might be unable to obtain any benefit from
those agreements. A default by any of the Group’s partners could
generate lower revenues than expected. Such situations could have a
negative impact on the Group’s business, financial position or
performance. The Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking
to update or revise any forward looking statements, targets or estimates
contained in this press release to reflect any change in events,
conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which any such statements
are based, unless so required by applicable law. The Group’s business is
subject to the risk factors outlined in its registration documents filed
with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers.
The risks and uncertainties set out are not exhaustive and the reader is
advised to refer to the Group’s 2014 Registration Document available on
its website (www.ipsen.com).
Exelixis – Forward Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including,
without limitation, statements related to: Exelixis’ receipt of a $10
million upfront payment; Exelixis’ eligibility to receive regulatory
milestones for the approvals of cabozantinib in Canada for advanced RCC
after prior treatment, for first-line RCC, and advanced HCC, as well as
additional regulatory milestones for potential further indications; the
potential receipt of tiered royalties on Ipsen’s net sales of
cabozantinib in Canada; Ipsen’s continued progress toward the pursuit of
approval and commercialization of cabozantinib in Canada; the
expectation that the regulatory filing in Canada for cabozantinib in
advanced RCC will be in 2017, with regulatory approval anticipated in
early 2018; Exelixis' commitment to the discovery, development and
commercialization of new medicines with the potential to improve care
and outcomes for people with cancer; Exelixis’ focus on advancing
cabozantinib; and the continued development of cobimetinib. Words such
as “will,” “eligible,” “potential,” “further,” “look forward,”
“expected,” “anticipated,” “committed,” “focused,” or other similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of
these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not
forward-looking. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations,
projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances
are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are
based upon Exelixis’ current plans, assumptions, beliefs, expectations,
estimates and projections. Forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ
materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a
result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without
limitation: the complexities and challenges associated with regulatory
review and approval processes; Exelixis’ dependence on its relationship
with Ipsen, including, the level of Ipsen’s investment in the resources
necessary to successfully commercialize cabozantinib in Canada and other
territories where it is approved; the degree of market acceptance of
CABOMETYX and the availability of coverage and reimbursement for
CABOMETYX; the risk that unanticipated developments could
adversely affect the commercialization of CABOMETYX; Exelixis’ ability
to conduct clinical trials of cabozantinib sufficient to achieve a
positive completion; risks related to the potential failure of
cabozantinib to demonstrate safety and efficacy in clinical testing;
Exelixis’ dependence on its relationship with Genentech/Roche with
respect to cobimetinib and Exelixis’ ability to maintain its rights
under the collaboration; Exelixis’ dependence on third-party vendors;
Exelixis’ ability to protect the company’s intellectual property rights;
market competition; changes in economic and business conditions, and
other factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Exelixis’
quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) on November 3, 2016, and in Exelixis’ future filings
with the SEC. The forward-looking statements made in this press release
speak only as of the date of this press release. Exelixis expressly
disclaims any duty, obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein
to reflect any change in Exelixis’ expectations with regard thereto or
any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such
statements are based.
Exelixis, the Exelixis logo, COMETRIQ and COTELLIC are registered
U.S. trademarks, and CABOMETYX is a U.S. trademark.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161220006162/en/
Source: Exelixis, Inc.
Exelixis Contacts
Financial
Community:
Susan Hubbard, 650-837-8194
Executive
Vice President, Public Affairs and Investor Relations
shubbard@exelixis.com
Media:
Lindsay
Treadway, 650-837-7522
Director, Public Affairs and Advocacy
Relations
ltreadway@exelixis.com
or
Ipsen
Contacts
Financial Community:
Eugenia
Litz, +44 (0) 1753 627721
Vice-President, Investor Relations
eugenia.litz@ipsen.com
Media:
Didier
Véron, +33 (0)1 58 33 51 16
Senior Vice-Preìsident, Public
Affairs and Communication
didier.veron@ipsen.com
or
Additional
Ipsen Contacts
Financial Community:
Côme
de La Tour du Pin, +33 (0)1 58 33 53 31
Investor Relations
Manager
come.de.la.tour.du.pin@ipsen.com
Media:
Brigitte
Le Guennec, +33 (0)1 58 33 51 17
Corporate External
Communication Manager
brigitte.le.guennec@ipsen.com