France's Neovacs takes on GSK and AstraZeneca in battle to treat lupus

Neovacs SA

15/09/2017 15:24

* Eyes annual sales of at least $1.2 bln 
    * Results of phase IIb trial expected in June 2018 
 
    By Matthias Blamont 
    PARIS, Sept 15 (Reuters) - French biotech company Neovacs 
 ALVEV.PA  is confident that its experimental drug to treat 
lupus could grab significant market share from standard 
treatments of the auto-immune disease, its chief executive said. 
    About 5 million people globally suffer from some form of 
lupus, the Lupus foundation of America says, affecting multiple 
organs and leading to a range of symptoms that can include skin 
rashes, swollen joints and fevers. 
    Until now, treatments from the likes of GlaxoSmithKline 
(GSK) GSK.L  and AstraZeneca's  AZN.L  MedImmune have focused on 
the use of monoclonal antibodies, but Neovacs is working on 
therapeutic vaccines covered by five patent families it calls 
kinoids, with patent protection until 2032.  
    Chief Executive Miguel Sieler said that Neovacs, which has 
secured supply of a key component for its products with U.S. 
company Stellar Biotechnologies  SBOT.O , is in a phase IIb 
study for a kinoid treatment in lupus, results of which are 
expected in June next year. 
    "This will be the company's moment of truth," he told 
Reuters. "If successful, these results will prove our technology 
works on humans and we will have work for the next 25 years."  
    Britain's GSK won U.S. approval for its lupus monoclonal 
antibody drug, Benlysta, in 2011 -- then the first drug approval 
for the condition in more than 50 years. MedImmune has joined 
the race for new treatments with anifrolumab, another monoclonal 
candidate, now in phase III trials. 
    Neovacs, meanwhile, says that kinoids are cheaper to 
manufacture than monoclonal antibodies and CEO Sieler said the 
company hopes to achieve annual sales of at least 1 billion 
euros ($1.2 billion) if its lupus treatment hits the market. 
    Negotiations are already under way with three pharmaceutical 
companies over exclusive distribution rights, he added. 
    Neovacs is also in phase IIa trials for a kinoid treatment 
for dermatomyositis -- a rare inflammatory disease -- and is 
also looking at type 1 diabetes. 
    "We see a use for our products in several therapeutic areas 
such as age-related macular degeneration and cancer," Sieler 
said.  
    "Where we go next will largely depend on next year's results 
in lupus." 
($1 = 0.8365 euros) 
 
 (Editing by David Goodman) 
 ((matthias.blamont@thomsonreuters.com ; +33 1 4949 5054; 
Reuters Messaging: matthias.blamont.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: NEOVACS STRATEGY/