Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:KPTI) granted cancer company Antengene Corp. (Shanghai, China) exclusive Asian rights to four compounds, significantly building out the Chinese company's clinical pipeline.
Antengene will develop and commercialize Karyopharm's selinexor (KPT-330) and eltanexor (KPT-8602) in China and Macau for cancer. Both are oral selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE) protein exportin 1 (XPO1; CRM1). Antengene also gains development and commercial rights in China, Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and ASEAN countries to verdinexor (KPT-335) for non-cancer indications and KPT-9274 for cancer.
Verdinexor is an oral SINE. KPT-9274 is a small molecule inhibitor of p21 protein (Cdc42 Rac)-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NamPRT; NAMPT).
Karyopharm will receive $12 million up front and will be eligible for $105 million in development milestones and $45 million in sales milestones. It is also eligible for tiered double-digit royalties on sales of selinexor and eltanexor and tiered single- to double-digit royalties on verdinexor and KPT-9274 sales. Antengene will have the option to participate in global clinical studies for any candidate in the agreement, and the company will be responsible for costs related to patients enrolled in the deal territory.
Selinexor is in Phase II and III testing for multiple myeloma (MM), Phase II/III testing for liposarcoma and endometrial cancer and Phase II testing for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Next half, Karyopharm expects to submit an NDA to FDA for selinexor in penta-refractory MM seeking accelerated approval. In early 2019, the company expects to seek conditional approval for the therapy in the EU to treat in MM. It has Orphan Drug designation from FDA for MM and Fast Track designation from the agency for use in combination with low-dose dexamethasone in penta-refractory MM patients.
Eltanexor is in Phase I/II testing for relapsed or refractory MM, colorectal cancer, metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and higher risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
In 2015, Karyopharm completed an Australian Phase I study of verdinexor in healthy volunteers. It plans to develop the candidate for viral indications with an initial focus on influenza.
KPT-9274 is in Phase I testing for advanced solid tumors and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).
Last year, Antengene acquired ATG-008 (CC-223), which is in registrational Phase II/III testing in Asia for solid tumors, from Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ:CELG). Antengene has exclusive rights to the inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2 in 14 countries and regions in Asia, including China and South Korea.
Antengene raised $21 million is a series A last year (see BioCentury, Aug. 18, 2017).
Karyopharm slipped $1.72 to $17.34 on Thursday.