WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- ImmuLogic Pharmaceutical
Corporation (Nasdaq: IMUL) announced today that it has entered into an
agreement for the sale of its drugs of addiction vaccines programs for the
treatment of nicotine and cocaine addiction to Cantab Pharmaceuticals plc
(Nasdaq: CNTBY; LSE: CTB). Under the terms of the agreement, Cantab will pay
a maximum initial consideration of U.S. $9 million which is to be satisfied by
the issue of up to 2,566,845 new Cantab Ordinary Shares of 2p each in the form
of American Depositary Shares (ADSs), in return for the transfer from
ImmuLogic of the two vaccine programs and U.S. $6 million in cash to help fund
the development of these vaccines.
In addition, Cantab will pay ImmuLogic a maximum further U.S.
$11.0 million in milestone payments contingent upon successful development of
the two programs to the end of Phase II clinical trials. These payments may
be made in cash or in additional ADSs or a combination thereof at Cantab's
option. Cantab will also pay ImmuLogic a share of the net royalties it
receives proportionate to the level of worldwide product sales achieved.
Closing of the acquisition, which is subject to the satisfaction of a number
of pre-conditions, is expected to take place in late January, 1999.
ImmuLogic has agreed it will not sell any of the American Depository
Shares or Cantab Ordinary Shares within six months following their issue.
Thereafter, ImmuLogic may sell up to 25% of such shares in each of the four
quarters following the expiration of the initial six-month period.
The two vaccine programs target addictions to cocaine and nicotine. The
cocaine vaccine is in a Phase I clinical trials in the U.S.; the nicotine
vaccine is in the final stages of preclinical development.
"We are very excited by this acquisition of these products which is in
line with our strategy to build our pipeline at all stages of product
development," said Jurek Sikorski, Chief Executive of Cantab. "These are
novel products that represent a strong fit within our current pipeline of
immunotherapeutic vaccines and capitalize on our scientific and medical
expertise in immunology and vaccine development. Commercially, they are
exciting as together they address a potentially huge market with very little
currently available in the way of effective treatments."
The scientific rationale behind this novel approach is very clear," said
John Shields, Ph.D., Cantab's Senior Vice President, New Projects. "The
preclinical data supporting these products is impressive, and we are delighted
to be able to add these programs to our portfolio."
"I view this as a very positive step for both ImmuLogic and Cantab. Our
novel drugs of addiction vaccines will become part of a broad vaccine
portfolio under development at Cantab. Our products complement that portfolio
and expand the purview. ImmuLogic is pleased to have been able to enlist the
scientific and clinical talent at Cantab in the further development of these
vaccines which address such significant medical and social problems," said J.
Joseph Marr, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of ImmuLogic.
Dr. Marr added, "This year, ImmuLogic has been quite successful in
concluding corporate arrangements with Sankyo, Heska Corporation, and now
Cantab Pharmaceuticals. This arrangement to transfer our drugs of addiction
programs to Cantab leaves ImmuLogic in a very strong cash position. Over the
next few months, management and the Board of Directors will explore in detail
a number of strategic options."
ImmuLogic Pharmaceutical Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company
located in Waltham, Massachusetts. The Company's press releases are available
through Company News on Call by fax at 800-758-5804, ext. 114501, and on the
Internet at http://www.prnewswire.com.
Cantab Pharmaceuticals plc, based in Cambridge, England, was established
in 1989 to exploit advances in immunology. Cantab has become a leader in the
field of immunotherapy, developing novel products for the treatment and
prevention of infectious diseases and cancer through the use of its
proprietary antigen and gene delivery system.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a
number of risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties that
relate to restructuring of its operations and licensing of its product
candidates. Among the most important factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements
are delays in product development, failure to obtain required regulatory
approvals, and the other risk factors detailed in the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.
SOURCE ImmuLogic Pharmaceutical Corporation
 back to top
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/114501.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 114501
CONTACT:
Investor Relations, ImmuLogic Pharmaceutical
Corporation, 781-466-6000
|
