ImmunoQure AG and Servier enter into strategic partnership for the development of an Interferon-alpha human autoantibody

Düsseldorf, Germany & Paris, France (ots) - ImmunoQure, a biotech
company focused on the research and development of human
autoantibodies as therapeutics for the treatment of common human
diseases and the international pharmaceutical company Servier today
announced the establishment of a Worldwide, exclusive partnership for
the development of a therapeutic autoantibody neutralizing
interferon-alpha.

ImmunoQure works in collaboration with leading academic centres
and the APECED Oy patient support group to gain a greater
understanding of an ultra-rare disease termed APECED/APS-1. APS-1 is
a monogenetic disorder whereby null or hypomorphic mutations in the
AIRE gene greatly impair central T cell tolerance. Consequently,
APS-1 patients are unable to optimally delete self-reactive T cells,
leading to an accumulation of T cells and B cells that target a wide
range of self-proteins. Recently, ImmunoQure published a seminal
paper in Cell describing the autoantibody repertoire of APS-1
patients, including the presence of ultra-high affinity, biologically
neutralizing, pan Interferon-alpha specific autoantibodies.

ImmunoQure and Servier will work collaboratively to advance
ImmunoQure's therapeutic human Interferon-alpha autoantibody through
preclinical development and into the clinic where Servier will assume
all responsibilities for its development as therapeutic to treat
diseases driven by elevated levels of interferon-alpha, 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.

"We are very excited to advance our autoantibody into the clinic
with Servier" stated Professor Adrian Hayday, co-founder of
ImmunoQure. "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.

"Our collaboration with ImmunoQure allows us to target a major
pathway of inflammation. The ultimate goal is to significantly
improve the management of patients who suffer from autoimmune
diseases and who do not respond, even partially, to existing
therapies", said Claude Bertrand, General Director of Research and
Development at Servier. "This agreement demonstrates Servier's
commitment to the development of treatments for immune-inflammatory
diseases".

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."

About ImmunoQure AG

ImmunoQure AG is a German biotechnology company based in
Düsseldorf. Founded in 2011, by a consortium of scientists, biotech
entrepreneurs, and APECED/APS1 patients, ImmunoQure focuses on the
research and development of autoantibodies rescued from APECED/APS-1
patients. APECED/APS-1 is a collection of diseases resulting from
major impairments of central tolerance as a direct consequence of
mutations in the AIRE gene.

About Servier

Servier is an international pharmaceutical company governed by a
non-profit foundation, with its headquarters in France (Suresnes).
With a strong international presence in 148 countries and a turnover
of 4.152 billion euros in 2017, Servier employs 21,600 people
worldwide. Entirely independent, the group reinvests 25% of its
turnover (excluding generic drugs) in research and development and
uses all its profits for development. Corporate growth is driven by
Servier's constant search for innovation in five areas of excellence:
cardiovascular, immune-inflammatory and neuropsychiatric disease,
oncology and diabetes, as well as by its activities in high-quality
generic drugs. More information: www.servier.com

Find us on Social Media:
LinkedIn: https://fr.linkedin.com/company/servier
Facebook: https://fr-fr.facebook.com/Servier/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/servier?lang=fr

For more information:
ImmunoQure AG
Dr. Edward Stuart
Chairman of the Board of Directors
+49 (0)171 4091427
edward.stuart@immunoqure.com

Servier Sonia Marques
Media Relations Manager
+33 (0)1 55 72 40 21
media@servier.com

Original-Content von: ImmunoQure AG, übermittelt durch news aktuell