SIGA Enters into Exclusive License Agreement with Vanderbilt University for Novel Poxvirus Monoclonal Antibodies
22 Oktober 2024 - 1:30PM
SIGA Technologies, Inc. (SIGA) (NASDAQ: SIGA), a commercial-stage
pharmaceutical company and leader in infectious diseases, today
announced that it entered into an agreement with Vanderbilt
University to obtain a license to a portfolio of preclinical fully
human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which could be used as potential
treatments for a broad range of orthopoxviruses, including smallpox
and mpox. Under the agreement, SIGA has exercised its option to
license the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and
commercialize these mAbs globally.
“SIGA has cultivated deep expertise in orthopoxvirus, and we are
thrilled to expand our pipeline with Vanderbilt’s human monoclonal
antibodies, which nicely complement our best-in-class TPOXX®
franchise. We believe these antibodies hold the potential to treat
a broad spectrum of orthopoxviruses, both as a therapeutic and a
prophylactic measure. By leveraging our unique capabilities in
clinical development and our long-standing partnerships with U.S.
Government agencies, we are well-positioned to maximize the impact
of these potential new therapies,” said Diem Nguyen, SIGA Chief
Executive Officer. “This license marks a step forward in our
strategy to leverage our existing capabilities to create new
opportunities for growth over the long term.”
Developed by James Crowe, Jr., M.D., Professor of Pediatrics,
Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at Vanderbilt University
Medical Center, these mABs have demonstrated promise in preclinical
models and could potentially be used as standalone treatments or in
combination with TPOXX®. The U.S. Department of Defense is
currently funding the development of these mAbs as potential
orthopoxvirus treatments through Phase 1 clinical trials under a
contract awarded to a contract manufacturing organization with
biologics expertise.
“Given the need for additional orthopoxvirus treatments in these
unsettling times of recurring poxvirus outbreaks, my team and I are
excited to work with SIGA in its future efforts to advance the
development of these innovative antibodies,” said Dr. Crowe.
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About SIGA SIGA is a commercial-stage
pharmaceutical company and leader in global health focused on the
development of innovative medicines to treat and prevent infectious
diseases. With a primary focus on orthopoxviruses, we are dedicated
to protecting humanity against the world’s most severe infectious
diseases, including those that occur naturally, accidentally, or
intentionally. Through partnerships with governments and public
health agencies, we work to build a healthier and safer world by
providing essential countermeasures against these global health
threats. Our flagship product, TPOXX® (tecovirimat), is an
antiviral medicine approved in
the U.S. and Canada for the treatment of
smallpox and authorized in Europe and
the UK for the treatment of smallpox, mpox (monkeypox),
cowpox, and vaccinia complications. For more information about
SIGA, visit www.siga.com.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended,
including statements relating to SIGA’s future business development
and plans including with respect to filling outstanding orders. The
words or phrases “can be,” “expects,” “may affect,” “may depend,”
“believes,” “estimate,” “will”, “project” and similar words and
phrases are intended to identify such forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject
to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and SIGA
cautions you that any forward-looking information provided by or on
behalf of SIGA is not a guarantee of future performance. SIGA’s
actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by
such forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, some of
which are beyond SIGA’s control, including, but not limited to, (i)
the risk that BARDA elects, in its sole discretion as permitted
under the 75A50118C00019 BARDA Contract (the “BARDA Contract”), not
to exercise the remaining unexercised option under the BARDA
Contract, (ii) the risk that SIGA may not complete performance
under the BARDA Contract on schedule or in accordance with
contractual terms, (iii) the risk that the BARDA Contract or U.S.
Department of Defense contracts are modified or canceled at the
request or requirement of, or SIGA is not able to enter into new
contracts to supply TPOXX to, the U.S. Government, (iv) the risk
that the nascent international biodefense market does not develop
to a degree that allows SIGA to continue to successfully market
TPOXX internationally, (v) the risk that potential products,
including potential alternative uses or formulations of TPOXX that
appear promising to SIGA or its collaborators, cannot be shown to
be efficacious or safe in subsequent pre-clinical or clinical
trials, (vi) the risk that target timing for deliveries of product
to customers, and the recognition of related revenues, are delayed
or adversely impacted by the actions, or inaction, of contract
manufacturing organizations, or other vendors, within the supply
chain, or due to coordination activities between the customer and
supply chain vendors, (vii) the risk that SIGA or its collaborators
will not obtain appropriate or necessary governmental approvals to
market TPOXX for smallpox or additional uses, (viii) the risk that
SIGA may not be able to secure or enforce sufficient legal rights
in its products, including intellectual property protection, (ix)
the risk that any challenge to SIGA’s patent and other property
rights, if adversely determined, could affect SIGA’s business and,
even if determined favorably, could be costly, (x) the risk that
regulatory requirements applicable to SIGA’s products may result in
the need for further or additional testing or documentation that
will delay or prevent SIGA from seeking or obtaining needed
approvals to market these products, (xi) the risk that the volatile
and competitive nature of the biotechnology industry may hamper
SIGA’s efforts to develop or market its products, (xii) the risk
that changes in domestic or foreign economic and market conditions
may affect SIGA’s ability to advance its research or may affect its
products adversely, (xiii) the effect of federal, state, and
foreign regulation, including drug regulation and international
trade regulation, on SIGA’s businesses, (xiv) the risk of
disruptions to SIGA’s supply chain for the manufacture of TPOXX®,
causing delays in SIGA’s research and development activities,
causing delays or the re-allocation of funding in connection with
SIGA’s government contracts, or diverting the attention of
government staff overseeing SIGA’s government contracts, (xv) risks
associated with actions or uncertainties surrounding the debt
ceiling, (xvi) the risk that the U.S. or foreign governments'
responses (including inaction) to national or global economic
conditions or infectious diseases, are ineffective and may
adversely affect SIGA’s business, and (xvii) risks associated with
responding to an mpox outbreak, as well as the risks and
uncertainties included in Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and SIGA's
subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SIGA urges investors and security holders to read those documents
free of charge at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. All such
forward-looking statements are current only as of the date on which
such statements were made. SIGA does not undertake any obligation
to update publicly any forward-looking statement to reflect events
or circumstances after the date on which any such statement is made
or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contacts:Suzanne Harnettsharnett@siga.com
and
Investors |
Media |
Jennifer Drew-Bear, Edison
GroupJdrew-bear@edisongroup.com |
Holly Stevens, Berry &
Companyhstevens@berrypr.com |
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