Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., an independent, privately held, biopharmaceutical company, and Numab AG, a company discovers and develops innovative antibody-based therapeutics, have signed a strategic collaboration focused on the development of once- or twice-yearly mono-specific and multi-specific antibodies addressing diabetes, obesity and autoimmune indications.

Under the terms of the collaboration, Numab is eligible to receive upfront and contingent milestone payments, as well as tiered single to low double-digit royalties on any sales resulting from collaborative efforts. Intarcia has the option to extend the collaboration beyond the initial assets and targets as well as the opportunity to purchase a strategic interest in Numab AG at a pre-defined time point. Intarcia will be responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of all products stemming from the collaboration.

Kurt Graves, chairman, president and CEO of Intarcia Therapeutics, commented: “We believe the unique characteristics of Numab’s antibody technology fit perfectly with our disruptive platform technologies, which have the potential to eliminate life-long injections and produce best-in-disease once- or twice-yearly medicines. Now is the time, as we finish our phase 3 programme for ITCA 650 in type 2 diabetes, to take this important strategic step to enhance and expand our pipeline. This collaboration reinforces Intarcia’s ongoing priority to develop game-changing therapeutics that address major unmet medical needs such as suboptimal efficacy as well as poor compliance and adherence.”

David Urech Ph. D, CSO and co-CEO of Numab AG, stressed:  “This collaboration triggers the development of a new generation of medications that addresses the notorious shortcomings of conventional antibody therapeutics. It reflects Numab’s ambition to partner with companies that share our dedication for true innovation.”

ITCA 650 (a once- or twice-yearly continuous subcutaneous delivery of exenatide) is being developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The investigational therapy employs Intarcia’s proprietary technology platform involving a matchstick-size, miniature osmotic pump that is placed sub-dermally to provide continuous and consistent drug therapy, and the company’s proprietary formulation technology, which maintains stability of therapeutic proteins and peptides at human body temperatures for extended periods of time. Exenatide, the active agent in ITCA 650, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist currently marketed globally as twice-daily and once-weekly self-injection therapies for type 2 diabetes. Upon approval, ITCA 650 would represent the first injection-free GLP-1 therapy that can deliver up to a full year of treatment from a single placement. ITCA 650 is currently in a global phase 3 clinical trial programme called FREEDOM.

Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc. is an independent, privately held, biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to enhance treatment outcomes by optimizing and improving the efficacy, continuous administration and tolerability of drug therapies.