Amsterdam, the Netherlands — uniQure B.V. announced it has signed collaboration agreements with Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA for the commercialization of Glybera, the first gene therapy to receive regulatory approval in Europe, as well as the co-development of a gene therapy for hemophilia B. In connection with this transaction uniQure attracts EUR 45 million (USD 58 million) in new funding. Chiesi provides both EUR 17 million (USD 21.8 million) in collaboration financing and EUR 14 million (USD 18 million) in equity. In addition, Coller Capital (London, UK) and existing investors provided EUR 14.1 million (USD 18.1 million) in equity.
Chiesi, an international company headquartered in Parma, Italy, obtains exclusive rights to commercialize Glybera, the first gene therapy product approved in the European Union for the treatment of the orphan disease lipoprotein lipase deficiency (LPLD) for which there is currently no treatment, as well as for uniQure’s pipeline product for hemophilia B, in Europe and selected other countries (Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, Turkey, Russia, and the CIS countries, plus China for Glybera only). Commercial rights for the US, Japan, and parts of Latin America and Asia, and Australasia remain with uniQure. In exchange, uniQure stands to receive net royalties that range from 20 to 30 percent over time on sales of both products. Furthermore, Chiesi will fund half of the remaining development costs for uniQure’s hemophilia B program, as well as take an equity stake in uniQure.
Contacts
Jörn Aldag
CEO uniQure
T: +31 20 566 8014
j.aldag@uniqure.com
Massimo Zaninelli
Communication Advisor Chiesi Farmaceutici Spa
Tel: +39 335 7893658
m.zaninelli@chiesi.com
About uniQure
uniQure is delivering on the promise of gene therapy, single treatments with potentially curative results. We have developed a modular platform to rapidly bring new disease modifying therapies to patients with severe disorders. Our approach is validated by multiple partnerships and the regulatory approval of our lead product Glybera. www.uniqure.com.
About Chiesi Farmaceutici
Founded in 1935 in Parma, Italy, Chiesi Farmaceutici currently has 25 affiliates worldwide and markets its therapeutics in over 60 countries. Chiesi’s manufacturing plants in Parma, Blois (France) and Santana de Parnaiba (Brazil), and R&D centers in Parma, Paris, Rockville (USA) and Chippenham (UK) integrate their efforts to advance the Group’s pre-clinical, clinical and registration programs. At the end of 2012, the Chiesi Group’s total staff stood at over 3,800 people, more than 350 of whom are dedicated to R&D. The main areas of activity are in respiratory therapeutics and specialist medicine areas.
About Gilde Healthcare
Gilde Healthcare (Utrecht, The Netherlands and Cambridge, USA) is a transatlantic growth capital investor focused on private healthcare companies. It has over €450 million ($600 million) under management and is actively looking to lead new investments in therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices and healthcare services.
For a list of Gilde’s portfolio companies please visit the website at www.gildehealthcare.com.
Gilde Healthcare II is supported by the European Communities Growth and Employment Initiative, MAP – ETF Start up Facility.