ImmunoQure will collaborate with Servier to advance ImmunoQure’s therapeutic human Interferon-α autoantibody through preclinical development and into the clinic where Servier will be entrusted with the responsibility for its development as therapeutic to treat diseases driven by elevated levels of interferon-α, with emphasis on systemic lupus erythemathosus and Sjögren’s syndrome. Under the terms of the agreement, Servier shall provide ImmunoQure with an upfront payment and milestones amounting up to 164 million euros as well as royalties on net sales.
Professor Adrian Hayday, co-founder of ImmunoQure stated “This is the next stage of our scientific strategy, for which Servier is an ideal partner, having demonstrated their expertise in developing high-potential therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Our partnership has the potential to help large numbers of patients in several disease indications, and – very importantly – can directly aid APECED/APS1 patients by facilitating our greater understanding of their condition and by demonstrating our capability to move from basic research investigations to clinical development” continued Prof. Hayday.
Dr. Edward Stuart, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of ImmunoQure commented “The industry currently faces a number of pressing issues including the need for novel, innovative and safe drug candidates to fill pipelines. Our scientific and business approach provides one solution to such issues. Together with our partner Servier and our academic partners such as the King’s College London, and the Universities of Helsinki and Tartu, we are ideally positioned to bring ImmunoQure’s outstanding science forward.”