• Novo Nordisk A/S (“NN”) and Innate Pharma (“IPH”) have reached an agreement by which IPH is granted full development and commercial rights to IPH 2101 in exchange of full rights to IPH 2301 plus 2.5 million euros upfront payment, milestone payments and royalties on future sales of IPH 2101
• IPH 2101 is a fully human monoclonal antibody with a novel mechanism of action currently undergoing Phase I clinical trials in hematological cancers; IPH 2101 was recently elected as one of the top 100 great investigational drugs by the R&D Directions magazine
• With this second clinical-stage compound, Innate Pharma reinforces its pioneering position in innate immunity and its product portfolio in hematological cancers

Marseilles, France – Innate Pharma (Euronext Paris : FR0010331421 – IPH), a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class drugs targeting the innate immune system, today announces that it has acquired the worldwide exclusive development and commercial rights to IPH 2101 (formerly NN1975) from Novo Nordisk A/S (“NN”) in the context of a swap of products. IPH 2101 is a natural killer (“NK”) cells-targeting monoclonal antibody with a novel mode of action for hematological (blood) cancer indications. It is currently undergoing two Phase I clinical trials in acute myeloid leukemia (“AML”) and multiple myeloma (“MMy”), in France and the USA respectively. 

“This is great news for Innate Pharma: IPH 2101 is a fully human antibody with sound scientific and medical rationale, with a validated mechanism of action that limits its development risk. This acquisition strengthens Innate Pharma’s position as a pioneer in the field of innate immunity and reinforces our proprietary clinical pipeline and commercial prospects.”

said Hervé Brailly, CEO of Innate Pharma. 

“Our decision to exit the field of cancer research was a global and strategic decision which had nothing to do with the development of IPH 2101 or of any of our other cancer compounds. We came to the conclusion that IPH represented the best possible option for the future of this product, thanks to the scientific and clinical expertise of the Company.”

said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CSO of Novo Nordisk A/S.

“The concept of targeting NK cells activation is a very promising approach for cancer therapy, and is already strongly supported by published clinical evidence in certain settings of hematological transplantations”

said Pr Michael Caligiuri, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Ohio State University, USA, investigator for IPH 2101 Phase I trial in MMy. He added:

“The predilection of NK cells activated through KIR receptor blockade for killing leukemic cells provides new therapeutic perspectives for the treatment of some human malignancies, and we are eager to move forward with Innate Pharma on the ongoing phase I clinical program”