- Nachrichtendetail
-
08.02.2024 07:15:32 - Spexis announces closing of sale of preclinical antibiotics program to Basilea
===
Spexis AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous
Spexis announces closing of sale of preclinical antibiotics program to Basilea
08-Feb-2024 / 07:15 CET/CEST
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
Allschwil, Switzerland, February 8, 2024
Spexis announces closing of sale of preclinical antibiotics program to Basilea
. Basilea to pay up to CHF 2 million for a preclinical program with novel antibiotics targeting
Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains
. Transaction is part of Spexis' efforts to partner or divest non-core programs and assets as the company
works through its moratorium status
. Transaction was subject to certain closing conditions, which now have been met and which will commence
payments from Basilea to Spexis
Spexis AG (SIX: SPEX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on macrocycle therapeutics for rare diseases
and oncology, today announced that it has closed its asset purchase agreement with Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil
(SIX: BSLN) wherein Basilea has now formally become the owner of a preclinical program of antibiotics developed by
Spexis from a novel class targeting Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains.^1^ The transaction
was subject to the approval by the Western District Court of the Canton Basel-Landschaft, which has now been obtained.
As part of the completed transaction, Basilea has acquired all program compounds, including intellectual property, and
is paying Spexis up to a total of CHF 2 million, which consists of an upfront payment which was now received at
closing, a payment related to the near-term transfer of the assets to Basilea, which is expected by the end of February
and a potential final milestone payment related to the availability of near-term external funding for the further
development of the program. In addition, Basilea has assumed the rights and obligations of Spexis related to the
program, including potential low single-digit percentage royalties on sales, under licensing agreements.
The assets sold to Basilea are macrocyclic antibiotics developed within Spexis' Outer Membrane Protein Targeting
Antibiotics (OMPTA) program which selectively disrupt the lipopolysaccharide transport bridge, an essential structure
in Gram-negative bacteria. This results in a loss of the integrity of the outer cell membrane, intracellular
accumulation of lipopolysaccharides and killing of the bacteria. Activity has been shown in vitro and in vivo against
Enterobacteriaceae such as E. coli and K. pneumoniae, including strains resistant to beta-lactams and colistin, an
antibiotic regarded as last-resort therapy. The program was funded in part by CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant
Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator)^2, a global non-profit partnership dedicated to supporting early-stage
antibacterial research and development to address the rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria.
Jeff Wager, MD, Chairman & CEO of Spexis, said: "We are very pleased to have finalized this transaction with Basilea as
it underscores the power of our macrocycle platform as a drug discovery platform and its potential to generate products
that can address significant unmet medical needs. From a corporate strategy perspective, this transaction is part of
Spexis' efforts to partner or divest non-core programs and assets as the company works towards exiting its moratorium
status and will generate funds and streamline focus which we can utilize towards advancing our core programs in rare
disease and oncology. "
About multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria
Infections by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are a major challenge for healthcare professionals. Due
to an additional outer cell membrane compared to Gram-positive bacteria, it is more difficult for antibiotics to get
into the cell. In addition, this outer membrane carries lipopolysaccharides/endotoxins which induce inflammation and
play an important amplifying role in the pathogenesis of infections by GNB and are therefore considered an important
virulence factor. Moreover, GNB can acquire resistance to several classes of antibiotics such as carbapenems,
fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines and earlier-generation cephalosporins, making infections with GNBs particularly
difficult to treat. In 2017, the World Health Organization published a list of 12 classes of priority bacterial
pathogens that pose the greatest threat to human health, of which nine classes are Gram-negative.^3
About Spexis
Spexis (SIX: SPEX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Allschwil, Switzerland, focused on macrocycle
therapeutics for rare diseases and oncology. For further information please visit: www.spexisbio.com.
About Spexis' Macrocycle Platforms
Spexis possesses what we regard as some of the most distinct, highly diverse and very well characterized macrocycle
libraries in the world, together with deep data on same, developed over the course of more than 25 years of research
OMPTA candidates described in this press release, these platforms have generated multiple other drug candidates in the
Spexis pipeline, including murepavidin, balixafortide, lonodelestat and others.
For further information please contact:
stephen@gilmartinir.com feldhaus@feldhaus-partner.ch
===
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current assumptions and forecasts of Spexis management. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the forward-looking statements made here and the actual development, in particular Spexis' results, financial situation, and performance. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only of the date of this communication. Spexis disclaims any intention or obligation to update and revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
This press release can be downloaded from www.spexisbio.com
References 1. M. Schuster, E. Brabet, K. K. Oi et al. Peptidomimetic antibiotics disrupt the lipopolysaccharidetransport bridge of drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Science Advances 2023 (9), eadg3683 2. Research reported in this press release is supported by CARB-X. CARB-X's funding for this project isprovided in part with federal funds from the US Department of Health and Human Services; Administration forStrategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority under agreement number75A50122C00028; and by awards from Wellcome (WT224842), and Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research(BMBF). The content of this press release is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarilyrepresent the official views of CARB-X or any of its funders. 3. https://www.who.int/news/item/27-02-2017-who-publishes-list-of-bacteria-for-which-new-antibiotics-are-urgently-needed (Accessed: January 11th,2024)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Inside Information
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
===
Hegenheimermattweg 125
4123 Allschwil
Switzerland
End of Announcement EQS News Service
===
1832895 08-Feb-2024 CET/CEST
Image link: https://eqs-cockpit.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=show_t_gif&application_id=1832895&application_name=news
END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 08, 2024 01:15 ET (06:15 GMT)
Spexis AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous
Spexis announces closing of sale of preclinical antibiotics program to Basilea
08-Feb-2024 / 07:15 CET/CEST
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
Allschwil, Switzerland, February 8, 2024
Spexis announces closing of sale of preclinical antibiotics program to Basilea
. Basilea to pay up to CHF 2 million for a preclinical program with novel antibiotics targeting
Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains
. Transaction is part of Spexis' efforts to partner or divest non-core programs and assets as the company
works through its moratorium status
. Transaction was subject to certain closing conditions, which now have been met and which will commence
payments from Basilea to Spexis
Spexis AG (SIX: SPEX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on macrocycle therapeutics for rare diseases
and oncology, today announced that it has closed its asset purchase agreement with Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil
(SIX: BSLN) wherein Basilea has now formally become the owner of a preclinical program of antibiotics developed by
Spexis from a novel class targeting Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains.^1^ The transaction
was subject to the approval by the Western District Court of the Canton Basel-Landschaft, which has now been obtained.
As part of the completed transaction, Basilea has acquired all program compounds, including intellectual property, and
is paying Spexis up to a total of CHF 2 million, which consists of an upfront payment which was now received at
closing, a payment related to the near-term transfer of the assets to Basilea, which is expected by the end of February
and a potential final milestone payment related to the availability of near-term external funding for the further
development of the program. In addition, Basilea has assumed the rights and obligations of Spexis related to the
program, including potential low single-digit percentage royalties on sales, under licensing agreements.
The assets sold to Basilea are macrocyclic antibiotics developed within Spexis' Outer Membrane Protein Targeting
Antibiotics (OMPTA) program which selectively disrupt the lipopolysaccharide transport bridge, an essential structure
in Gram-negative bacteria. This results in a loss of the integrity of the outer cell membrane, intracellular
accumulation of lipopolysaccharides and killing of the bacteria. Activity has been shown in vitro and in vivo against
Enterobacteriaceae such as E. coli and K. pneumoniae, including strains resistant to beta-lactams and colistin, an
antibiotic regarded as last-resort therapy. The program was funded in part by CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant
Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator)^2, a global non-profit partnership dedicated to supporting early-stage
antibacterial research and development to address the rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria.
Jeff Wager, MD, Chairman & CEO of Spexis, said: "We are very pleased to have finalized this transaction with Basilea as
it underscores the power of our macrocycle platform as a drug discovery platform and its potential to generate products
that can address significant unmet medical needs. From a corporate strategy perspective, this transaction is part of
Spexis' efforts to partner or divest non-core programs and assets as the company works towards exiting its moratorium
status and will generate funds and streamline focus which we can utilize towards advancing our core programs in rare
disease and oncology. "
About multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria
Infections by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are a major challenge for healthcare professionals. Due
to an additional outer cell membrane compared to Gram-positive bacteria, it is more difficult for antibiotics to get
into the cell. In addition, this outer membrane carries lipopolysaccharides/endotoxins which induce inflammation and
play an important amplifying role in the pathogenesis of infections by GNB and are therefore considered an important
virulence factor. Moreover, GNB can acquire resistance to several classes of antibiotics such as carbapenems,
fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines and earlier-generation cephalosporins, making infections with GNBs particularly
difficult to treat. In 2017, the World Health Organization published a list of 12 classes of priority bacterial
pathogens that pose the greatest threat to human health, of which nine classes are Gram-negative.^3
About Spexis
Spexis (SIX: SPEX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Allschwil, Switzerland, focused on macrocycle
therapeutics for rare diseases and oncology. For further information please visit: www.spexisbio.com.
About Spexis' Macrocycle Platforms
Spexis possesses what we regard as some of the most distinct, highly diverse and very well characterized macrocycle
libraries in the world, together with deep data on same, developed over the course of more than 25 years of research
and development and significant investment. These include PEMFinderT, which is comprised of peptidomimetic macrocycles, and MACROFinderT, which are small molecule macrocycles. Each have distinct applications depending on the targets in question, which can be both extracelluar and intracellular targets. In addition to generating the specific
OMPTA candidates described in this press release, these platforms have generated multiple other drug candidates in the
Spexis pipeline, including murepavidin, balixafortide, lonodelestat and others.
For further information please contact:
For Investors: For Media: Stephen Jasper Dr. Stephan Feldhaus Managing Director Feldhaus & Partner Gilmartin Group +41 79 865 9256
stephen@gilmartinir.com feldhaus@feldhaus-partner.ch
===
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current assumptions and forecasts of Spexis management. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the forward-looking statements made here and the actual development, in particular Spexis' results, financial situation, and performance. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only of the date of this communication. Spexis disclaims any intention or obligation to update and revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
This press release can be downloaded from www.spexisbio.com
References 1. M. Schuster, E. Brabet, K. K. Oi et al. Peptidomimetic antibiotics disrupt the lipopolysaccharidetransport bridge of drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Science Advances 2023 (9), eadg3683 2. Research reported in this press release is supported by CARB-X. CARB-X's funding for this project isprovided in part with federal funds from the US Department of Health and Human Services; Administration forStrategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority under agreement number75A50122C00028; and by awards from Wellcome (WT224842), and Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research(BMBF). The content of this press release is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarilyrepresent the official views of CARB-X or any of its funders. 3. https://www.who.int/news/item/27-02-2017-who-publishes-list-of-bacteria-for-which-new-antibiotics-are-urgently-needed (Accessed: January 11th,2024)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Inside Information
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
===
Language: English Company: Spexis AG
Hegenheimermattweg 125
4123 Allschwil
Switzerland
Phone: +41 61 567 1600 Fax: +41 61 567 1601 E-mail: info@spexisbio.com Internet: www.spexisbio.com ISIN: CH0106213793 Valor: SPEX Listed: SIX Swiss Exchange EQS News ID: 1832895
End of Announcement EQS News Service
===
1832895 08-Feb-2024 CET/CEST
Image link: https://eqs-cockpit.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=show_t_gif&application_id=1832895&application_name=news
END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 08, 2024 01:15 ET (06:15 GMT)
