OncoGenex executes initial agreement with Teva to regain rights to custirsen

Dec 31 2014

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OGXI) today announced that it has executed an initial agreement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA) to regain rights to custirsen, an investigational compound currently being evaluated in Phase 3 clinical development as a treatment for prostate and lung cancers. This transfer of rights would occur in connection with the termination of the collaboration agreement between OncoGenex and Teva executed in 2009.

The initial agreement reached by OncoGenex and Teva provides that, following execution of the final agreement to terminate the collaboration between the parties, OncoGenex will receive a $27 million payment from Teva, subject to certain adjustments. In addition, OncoGenex will take over responsibility for all custirsen related expenses, including those related to the ENSPIRIT trial, as well as manufacturing and regulatory activities for custirsen programs, which are currently being managed by Teva. OncoGenex expects that the $27 million payment from Teva will allow for the completion and final results from the AFFINITY trial, as well as continuation of the ENSPIRIT trial through the second interim futility analysis expected in the first half of 2015.

"Teva's strategic focus has shifted away from oncology research and development. However, OncoGenex remains committed to the continued investigation of custirsen, particularly in patients who have advancing disease despite previous treatments," said Scott Cormack, President and CEO of OncoGenex. "This agreement provides OncoGenex with greater control of custirsen's development, including the modification of the ENSPIRIT statistical analysis plan to involve a more rigorous second interim futility analysis to be completed in the second quarter of 2015 that, if passed, would enable the trial to continue with a smaller enrollment requirement, increased confidence in success and shorter time to regulatory submission."

The Company expects that the $27 million payment from Teva and the Company's current resources should enable the completion of the AFFINITY trial through data readout in late 2015/early 2016, allow for the continuation of the ENSPIRIT trial through the second interim futility analysis that is expected in the first half of 2015 and the achievement of key apatorsen clinical milestones, such as the completion of patient enrollment in the Borealis-2™ trial and final data from the Spruce™ and Rainier™ clinical trials.

The Company anticipates a final agreement will be executed in January 2015.