Agenus out-licenses Russian rights to cancer vaccine

US biotech firm Agenus (Nasdaq: AGEN), known as Antigenics until January of this year, has entered into a license, development and manufacturing technology transfer agreement with Russian company NewVac (a subsidiary of ChemRar High Tech Center) for its Oncophage (HSPPC-96; vitespen) vaccine. Oncophage is approved in Russia for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC, kidney cancer) in patients at intermediate risk of recurrence.

Under the accord, Agenus has granted NewVac an exclusive license to manufacture, market and sell Oncophage as well as pursue a development program of its product in combination with NewVac's co-adjuvant technology in the Russian Federation and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. Agenus is entitled to receive a transfer price and/or royalties on Oncophage product sales, and potential milestone payments. Further financial terms were not disclosed.

"We are very excited to work with NewVac as an innovative scientific partner that is ready to both establish an Oncophage manufacturing facility in Russia and to commercialize this unique personalized cancer vaccine. In addition, the planned development efforts for Oncophage in combination with NewVac's co-adjuvant will provide us with an opportunity to explore how Oncophage can contribute even more to patient care," said Garo Armen, chairman and chief executive of Agenus, adding: "This agreement brings us a step closer to making this product available to patients and driving further innovation in the cancer immunotherapy field."