Benzinga | Oct 25, 2021 04:39PM EDT

AnaptysBio Reports Deal To Monetize Portion Of JEMPERLI Royalties For $250M With Sagard

* AnaptysBio to receive $250 million upfront cash payment from Sagard Healthcare Royalty Partners

* Sagard to receive AnaptysBio's 8% royalty on annual global net sales of JEMPERLI (dostarlimab-gxly) below $1 billion, plus certain future regulatory and commercial sales milestones, while AnaptysBio retains 12-25% royalties and milestones on annual global net sales at or above $1 billion

* Agreement expires once Sagard receives capped return equivalent to either 125% of the upfront payment if received by end 2026, 135% if received during 2027 or 165% thereafter

* Recent GSK estimates anticipate peak annual global JEMPERLI sales of approximately $1.4-$2.8 billion

* AnaptysBio expects to end 2021 with approximately $600 million in cash and will continue to operate in a capital-efficient manner

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AnaptysBio, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANAB), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class antibody product candidates focused on emerging immune control mechanisms applicable to inflammation and immuno-oncology indications, today announced the signing of an agreement with Sagard Healthcare Royalty Partners to monetize a portion of AnaptysBio's future JEMPERLI royalties and milestones. AnaptysBio intends to utilize the proceeds of the transaction towards funding of its wholly-owned preclinical and clinical-stage antibody programs.

"We believe this transaction with Sagard validates the future commercial potential of JEMPERLI and brings significant non-dilutive funding to AnaptysBio," said Hamza Suria, president and chief executive officer of AnaptysBio. "Using our capital-efficient business model, AnaptysBio will continue to focus on advancing wholly-owned therapeutic antibodies to clinical data catalysts and the discovery of novel preclinical antibodies to emerging inflammation and immuno-oncology targets."

"We are thrilled to partner with AnaptysBio on this royalty transaction which reflects our confidence in JEMPERLI as a treatment for patients with certain endometrial and solid tumor cancers. Sagard's investment is aligned with our goal of accelerating biopharmaceutical innovation by providing our partners with flexible sources of financing," said Ali Alagheband, Partner at Sagard Holdings.

Upon closing of this transaction, which is anticipated by the end of 2021, Sagard will pay AnaptysBio $250 million upfront in exchange for royalties payable to AnaptysBio under its GSK collaboration on annual global net sales of JEMPERLI below $1 billion starting October 2021. The royalty rate applicable below the $1 billion annual net sales threshold is 8%. Sagard may also receive up to a total of $105 million in potential cash milestones, of which $15 million are subject to certain future JEMPERLI regulatory filing and approval milestones and up to $90 million are subject to certain commercial sales milestones due prior to JEMPERLI achieving the $1 billion in annual global net sales threshold.

Royalties payable above $1 billion JEMPERLI annual global net sales, which are paid by GSK at 12% to 25%, and certain milestones payable on annual sales at or above $1 billion are retained by AnaptysBio and are not subject to this Agreement. Royalties and milestones due upon development and commercialization of the AnaptysBio-generated anti-TIM-3 antagonist (cobolimab) or anti-LAG-3 antagonist (GSK4074386) antibodies under the GSK collaboration, including in combination with JEMPERLI, are also not subject to this Agreement. In addition, royalties due to AnaptysBio from GSK's global net sales of ZEJULA (niraparib) are excluded from this Agreement.

The aggregate JEMPERLI royalties and milestones to be received by Sagard under this Agreement is capped at certain fixed multiples of the upfront payment based upon time. Once Sagard receives an aggregate of either $312.5 million (125% of the upfront) by the end of 2026, or $337.5 million (135% of the upfront) during 2027 or $412.5 million (165% of the upfront) at any time after 2027, the Agreement will expire resulting in AnaptysBio regaining all subsequent JEMPERLI royalties and milestones. The closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.