Codexis Finalizes Purchase Agreement with Crosswalk Therapeutics for Gene Therapy Assets
Codexis (NASDAQ: CDXS), an enzyme engineering firm, has entered an asset purchase agreement with Crosswalk Therapeutics, transferring its investigational Fabry and Pompe disease compounds. Codexis is set to receive future development and commercial milestone payments, along with a low-to-mid single-digit percentage net sales-based royalty. Crosswalk Therapeutics, led by former Takeda rare diseases team members, will continue advancing these therapies. This move follows Codexis' strategic shift to monetize non-core assets and focus on high-value programs after Takeda discontinued its AAV gene therapy efforts in April 2023.
- Codexis will receive future milestone payments and royalties from the agreement.
- The strategic shift allows Codexis to focus on high-value programs.
- Crosswalk Therapeutics, led by experienced former Takeda team members, will advance the therapies.
- Takeda discontinued its AAV gene therapy efforts, impacting Codexis' development programs.
Insights
The asset purchase agreement with Crosswalk Therapeutics provides Codexis with future development and commercial milestone payments as well as royalties based on net sales. This is a strategic move by Codexis to monetize its non-core assets, allowing the company to focus on high-value programs. Although the specific financial terms were not disclosed, the potential for future income through milestone payments and royalties can be considered a positive aspect.
For investors, it is essential to note that these kinds of agreements typically involve long-term revenue streams rather than immediate financial gains. This could translate into increased financial stability and sustained revenue growth for Codexis in the future. However, the impact on near-term financials might be minimal, depending on how quickly Crosswalk Therapeutics can advance these compounds to market.
Given the background of Crosswalk’s team, who are experienced in rare diseases and previously worked with Takeda, there is a reasonable level of confidence that the programs will be developed effectively. Nonetheless, investors should keep an eye on the progress of these compounds and any related milestone achievements to gauge the financial impact on Codexis.
This agreement involves Codexis' investigational compounds for Fabry and Pompe diseases, which are serious genetic disorders. For retail investors, understanding the medical context is crucial. Fabry disease and Pompe disease are both caused by enzyme deficiencies and are categorized under lysosomal storage disorders. Advanced therapies for these conditions can be highly profitable if they reach the market due to the unmet medical needs.
The fact that Crosswalk Therapeutics is led by former members of Takeda’s rare diseases team offers a level of confidence in their capability to advance these programs. These professionals are likely already familiar with the developmental and regulatory pathways, which could potentially speed up progress.
Moreover, the new focus on gene therapy is particularly notable. Gene therapies are viewed as cutting-edge solutions with the potential for long-lasting effects or even cures, differentiating them from traditional treatments that often require lifelong administration. However, investors must also be aware of the high risks associated with gene therapy development, which include regulatory hurdles and the need for extensive clinical trials.
From a market perspective, Codexis's strategic shift and this particular deal reflect a broader trend in the biotechnology sector where companies are increasingly focusing on their core competencies while monetizing non-core assets. This helps streamline operations and can often lead to higher operational efficiency and focus.
The market for treatments for rare diseases such as Fabry and Pompe is significant, with high market potential due to the lack of effective treatments and the high cost of care. For instance, any approved new therapy in these areas can command premium pricing. Codexis's move to license these assets rather than develop them in-house suggests a strategic allocation of resources to areas where they see higher potential returns.
Investors should also note that this strategic focus aligns with broader industry movements and can be viewed positively in terms of the company’s long-term vision. However, the actual financial impact will depend heavily on the success of Crosswalk Therapeutics in advancing these programs, which remains uncertain and warrants close monitoring.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Codexis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDXS), a leading enzyme engineering company, today announced it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Crosswalk Therapeutics for the Company’s investigational Fabry and Pompe disease compounds. Under the terms of the agreement, Codexis is eligible to receive future development and commercial milestone payments in addition to a low-to-mid single-digit percentage net sales-based royalty.
“We’re thrilled to place these exciting programs in highly experienced hands at Crosswalk Therapeutics. Since announcing our strategic shift last year, we have executed multiple transactions to monetize our non-core assets and enable our team to focus on programs where we can deliver maximum value. Crosswalk Therapeutics is led by former members of the Takeda rare diseases team who are familiar with these programs, making them the ideal partner to continue advancing these therapies in the best interest of patients,” said Kevin Norrett, MBA, Chief Operating Officer at Codexis.
Both programs were previously part of Codexis’ collaboration agreement with Takeda. In April 2023, Takeda discontinued its efforts in AAV gene therapy, which included these development programs.
About Codexis
Codexis is a leading enzyme engineering company leveraging its proprietary CodeEvolver® technology platform to discover, develop and enhance novel, high-performance enzymes and other classes of proteins. Codexis enzymes solve for real-world challenges associated with small molecule pharmaceuticals manufacturing and nucleic acid synthesis. The Company is currently developing its proprietary ECO Synthesis™ manufacturing platform to enable the scaled manufacture of RNAi therapeutics through an enzymatic route. Codexis’ unique enzymes can drive improvements such as higher yields, reduced energy usage and waste generation, improved efficiency in manufacturing and greater sensitivity in genomic and diagnostic applications. For more information, visit www.codexis.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “suggest,” “target,” “on track,” “will,” “would” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management, including but not limited to the potential receipt by Codexis of milestones and net sales-based royalties pursuant to its asset purchase agreement with Crosswalk Therapeutics; the future advancement of Codexis’ investigational Fabry and Pompe disease compounds by Crosswalk Therapeutics; and the potential of Codexis’ ECO Synthesis™ manufacturing platform, including its ability to drive improvements relative to traditional chemical synthesis related to scalability, cost limitations, waste and overall economics. Factors that could materially affect actual results include, among others: Codexis’ dependence on its licensees and collaborators; if any of its collaborators terminate their development programs under their respective license agreements with Codexis; Codexis may need additional capital in the future in order to expand its business; if Codexis is unable to successfully develop new technology such as its ECO Synthesis™ manufacturing platform and dsRNA ligase; Codexis' dependence on a limited number of products and customers, and potential adverse effects to Codexis’ business if its customers’ products are not received well in the markets; if competitors and potential competitors who have greater resources and experience than Codexis develop products and technologies that make Codexis’ products and technologies obsolete; Codexis’ ability to comply with debt covenants under its loan facility; if Codexis is unable to accurately forecast financial and operational performance; and market and economic conditions may negatively impact Codexis' business, financial condition and share price. Additional information about factors that could materially affect actual results can be found in Codexis’ Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 28, 2024 and in Codexis’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 2, 2024, including under the caption “Risk Factors,” and in Codexis’ other periodic reports filed with the SEC. Codexis expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
For More Information
Investor Contact
Carrie McKim
(336) 608-9706
ir@codexis.com
Media Contact
Lauren Musto
(650) 412-8205
media@codexis.com
FAQ
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