vTv Therapeutics Announces Licensing Agreement for Novel Nrf2 Activator to Anteris Bio

Rhea-AI Summary

vTv Therapeutics has signed a licensing agreement with Anteris Bio for its Nrf2 activator compound, HPP971, aimed at renal disease treatment. Anteris will pay vTv $2 million upfront and may provide up to $151 million in future milestones, along with royalties on sales. HPP971, which has completed two Phase 1 studies, will be renamed ANT-401 and may address chronic kidney disease (CKD), affecting 700 million globally. vTv continues to seek development opportunities for its other Nrf2 compounds.

Positive

• Licensing agreement with Anteris Bio for HPP971, providing $2 million upfront.
• Potential for up to $151 million in development, regulatory, and sales milestones.
• Opportunity for royalty income on annual net sales at a low double-digit rate.
• HPP971 (to be renamed ANT-401) addresses a significant unmet need in CKD treatment.

Negative

• None.

HIGH POINT, N.C., Dec. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- vTv Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:VTVT) today announced that vTv Therapeutics LLC (“vTv”) has entered into a licensing agreement with Anteris Bio for worldwide rights to vTv’s novel clinical-stage Nrf2 activator compound, HPP971. Anteris Bio, a newly-formed portfolio company of Aditum Bio, the biotech investment firm co-founded in 2019 by former Novartis CEO Joe Jimenez and former President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) Dr. Mark Fishman, will focus on developing HPP971 as a new therapy for the treatment of renal disease.

HPP971 is vTv’s most advanced oral, small molecule activator of the Nrf2 pathway (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) within its portfolio of promising Nrf2 compounds. HPP971 has completed two phase 1 studies to date. Under the terms of the agreement, Anteris will pay vTv an upfront payment of $2 million and vTv may be eligible for up to $151 million of future development, regulatory and commercial sales milestones, as well as royalties on annual net sales at a low double-digit rate in exchange for worldwide development and commercialization rights to the compound. In addition, vTv will receive a minority equity interest in Anteris Bio.

“The Nrf2 pathway is a promising, novel target for combating many diseases related to oxidative stress, including renal disease,” said Steve Holcombe, president and chief executive officer of vTv Therapeutics. “We’re thrilled to partner with Anteris to further the development of HPP971. With a focus in renal disease and a strategic partnership with TrialSpark, they will have the ability to efficiently develop HPP971 to ultimately bring a potential new treatment option to patients suffering from kidney disease.”

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most significant global health challenges and a leading cause of mortality, both directly and as a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Globally, it is estimated that nearly 700 million individuals suffer from CKD, and CKD is directly responsible for over 1 million deaths annually. Clear unmet medical need exists in renal disease as therapies have traditionally revolved around treatment of symptoms (e.g. hypertension, renal failure). HPP971, to be renamed ANT-401, is a small molecule activator of Nrf2, a mechanism which has disease modifying potential across multiple etiologies of renal disease. Nrf2 is a transcription factor required for the expression of many antioxidant genes regulated by the ARE promoter sequence. ANT-401 activates Nrf2 through the inhibition of Bach1, a transcription repressor that prevents Nrf2 activity in the nucleus.

vTv will continue to explore further internal development and partnership opportunities for the remaining molecules in its portfolio of Nrf2 activators.

About vTv Therapeutics
vTv Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing oral small molecule drug candidates. vTv has a pipeline of clinical drug candidates led by programs for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and inflammatory disorders. vTv’s development partners are pursuing additional indications in type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and genetic mitochondrial diseases. For more information, please visit www.vtvtherapeutics.com or follow us on Twitter: @vTvTherapeutics.

About Aditum Bio
Aditum Bio is committed to improving public health by accelerating R&D in disease areas with both large and more targeted patient populations, where medical innovation can have a huge impact. Aditum Bio focuses on basic mechanisms of disease, in-licenses promising drug candidates directed at such pathophysiologies, and spins-out individual companies dedicated to bringing each candidate through Phase II clinical trials. In partnership with TrialSpark, a technology driven research company that can complete clinical trials faster and at a lower cost than traditional trials, Aditum Bio uses data, software and technology to help bring innovative medicines through the clinical trial phase more quickly and with lower costs than traditional pharmaceutical companies.
For more information, please visit www.aditumbio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including statements regarding the timing of our clinical trials, our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our results to vary from expectations include those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this release and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this release and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or review publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, merger, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may undertake. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

Contacts

Investors:

Corey Davis
LifeSci Advisors
CDavis@LifeSciAdvisors.com

or

Media:
Glenn Silver
Lazar FINN Partners
646-871-8485
gsilver@lazarpartners.com 

 

FAQ

What is vTv Therapeutics' latest licensing agreement?

vTv Therapeutics has entered into a licensing agreement with Anteris Bio for its Nrf2 activator compound, HPP971, for renal disease treatment.

What are the financial terms of the agreement between vTv Therapeutics and Anteris Bio?

Anteris Bio will pay vTv Therapeutics $2 million upfront and may provide up to $151 million in future development and sales milestones.

How does HPP971 relate to chronic kidney disease?

HPP971, soon to be known as ANT-401, targets chronic kidney disease, which affects nearly 700 million people globally.

What milestone payments can vTv Therapeutics expect from Anteris Bio?

vTv may receive up to $151 million in milestone payments based on future development and commercialization of HPP971.

What is the significance of the Nrf2 pathway in treating renal disease?

The Nrf2 pathway is a novel target for combating diseases related to oxidative stress, including chronic kidney disease.