F-Star Biotechnology Ltd.. (5/14/19). "Press Release: F-star Expedites Its Transition to a Wholly-owned Portfolio Strategy". Cambridge.

	Organisation	F-Star Biotechnology Ltd. (F-Star Therapeutics)
	Group	Sino Biopharm (Group)
	Organisation 2	Merck KGaA
	Group	Merck (DE) (Group)
	Product	FS118 (F-Star)
	Product 2	phase 1 study
	Person	Forster, Eliot (F-Star 201810– CEO before Immunocore + Creabilis + Solace Pharmaceuticals + Pfizer + GSK)

> Reconfigured collaboration represents major advancement in F-star’s pivot to a wholly-owned portfolio strategy

> F-star retains lead clinical asset, first-in-class bispecific antibody, FS118

> FS118 Phase 1 trial study continues according to F-star protocol

> Merck exercises option for one discovery stage programme and retains option for second discovery programme from original collaboration

F-star, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company delivering tetravalent bispecific antibodies for a paradigm-shift in cancer therapy, today announced the reconfiguration of its immuno-oncology collaboration, established in 2017, with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany as it executes on its transition to a wholly-owned portfolio and builds scale and value as a world-class biopharmaceutical company.

Under the terms of the new agreement, F-star retains exclusive rights to develop and commercialise FS118, a clinical-stage tetravalent bispecific antibody. At the same time, Merck has exercised its option for one discovery stage programme and retains the right to option a second discovery programme from the 2017 original agreement. No financial terms of the agreement are being disclosed.

Eliot Forster, CEO of F-star, said: “This new agreement reflects our pivot to building a wholly-owned pipeline, that allows for rapid progress into the clinic and secures greater long-term value from our products. With full rights to FS118, we have an opportunity to accelerate the development of this firstin-class medicine for a group of targeted cancer patients. We are also pleased to continue our longterm collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany by advancing assets from F-star’s Modular Antibody TechnologyTM into their pipeline.”

FS118 is a potential first-in-class tetravalent bispecific antibody for the treatment of cancer, developed to overcome tumour evasion mechanisms promoted by two molecules (LAG-3: Lymphocyte-Activation Gene 3 and PD-L1: Programmed Death-Ligand 1) with the potential to restore the natural ability of the immune system to fight cancer(1). Initiated in April 2018 under F-star’s sponsorship, the Phase I trial (NCT03440437) continues as originally planned and is expected to read out during 2020.

(1) LAG-3/PD-L1 mAb² can overcome PD-L1-mediated compensatory upregulation of LAG-3 induced by single-agent checkpoint blockade. Faroudi et al. (March 2019) - Poster at the annual AACR meeting

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact:

For investor enquiries

Lindsey Trickett
VP Investor Relations & Communications
+1 240 543 7970
lindsey.trickett@f-star.com

Consilium Strategic Communications
Chris Gardner, Sue Stuart, David Daley
Tel: +44 (0)20 3709 5700
E-mail: F-star@consilium-comms.com

For media enquiries

Pierre Peotta
Communications Manager
+44 (0)1223 948 094
+44 (0)7392 080 279
pierre.peotta@f-star.com

US
Catherine London, US President
Tel: +1 917-763-2709
E-mail: F-star@consilium-comms.com

About F-star

F-star is a leading clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company delivering tetravalent bispecific antibodies for a paradigm-shift in cancer therapy. By developing medicines that seek to block tumour immune evasion, the Company’s goal is to offer patients greater and more durable benefits than current immuno-oncology treatments. Through its proprietary tetravalent, bispecific antibody (mAb²™) format, F-star is generating first- and best-in-class drug candidates with monoclonal antibody-like manufacturability. Building on the combined expertise of its world-class management team and scientific leadership, F-star is poised to deliver the next breakthrough immunotherapies for cancer patients.

Find out more at www.f-star.com. Connect with us via LinkedIn and Twitter

About FS118

Currently in a Phase I trial at four clinical sites in the United States, FS118 is a potentially first-in-class medicine for the treatment of resistant and refractory cancer. This tetravalent, bispecific antibody is developed to overcome tumour evasion mechanisms promoted by two highly immuno-suppressive molecules: LAG-3 (Lymphocyte-Activation Gene 3) and PD-L1 (Programmed Death-Ligand 1). By simultaneously blocking both inhibitory pathways, FS118 has preclinically demonstrated a potent antitumour growth activity(1) as well as a highly differentiated mechanism of action(2) when compared to checkpoint monotherapies alone or in combinations.

In April 2018, a Phase 1 clinical study started in patients who have progressed on or after a prior PD-1/PD-L1 containing therapy. Information about the trial is available on clinicaltrials.gov NCT03440437. FS118 is manufactured at 2000L scale using standard mAb manufacturing processes.

(1) Dual blockade of PD-L1 and LAG-3 with FS118, a unique bispecific antibody, induces CD8+ T cell activation and modulates the tumour microenvironment to promote anti-tumour immune responses. Kraman et al. (April 2018) - Poster at the annual AACR meeting

(2) LAG-3/PD-L1 mAb² can overcome PD-L1-mediated compensatory upregulation of LAG-3 induced by single-agent checkpoint blockade. Faroudi et al. (March 2019) - Poster at the annual AACR meeting

Record changed: 2024-08-24