Mereo BioPharma, Oncologie Form License Agreement for Ovarian Cancer Treatment

According to a Jan 13, 2020 press release, Mereo BioPharma Group and Oncologie have entered a global licensing agreement for the development and commercialization of navicixizumab.

Navicixizumab is an anti-DLL4/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) bispecific antibody that is currently being evaluated, in combination with paclitaxel, for the treatment of patients with advanced heavily pretreated ovarian cancer. FDA granted fast track designation to navicixizumab in October 2019.

Under the terms of the license agreement, Oncologie will receive exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize the antibody with Mereo receiving an upfront payment of $4 million and a further payment of $2 million on a chemistry, manufacturing, and controls milestone. 

“We believe Oncologie is expertly positioned to further advance navicixizumab through clinical development and towards potential commercialization,” said Dr. Denise Scots-Knight, CEO of Mereo, in the press release. 

“We believe navicixizumab is a strong strategic fit with our portfolio of innovative oncology assets, and we are excited to enter into this agreement with Mereo,” added Laura E. Benjamin, CEO of Oncologie, in the press release. “Navicixizumab has demonstrated robust activity when combined with paclitaxel in a Phase Ib study in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients including those who received prior bevacizumab. Navicixizumab has also demonstrated promising activity in a Phase Ib monotherapy study of heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patients, as well as in other tumor types. We seek to leverage the strong development and regulatory progress Mereo has already made to continue its development and ultimately make this investigational therapy available to patients as quickly as possible.”

Source: Mereo BioPharma