Sobi expands Haemophilia development portfolio - elects to include potentially longer-acting Haemophilia A candidate in collaboration agreement with Biogen Idec

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobi) has elected to add the preclinical rFVIIIFc-XTEN-vWF fusion molecule to the company's collaboration with Biogen Idec. The XTEN technology is proprietary to Amunix Operating, Inc.. Biogen Idec and Amunix signed a worldwide license agreement in April 2014. Under the terms of Sobi and Biogen Idec's agreement, Sobi has the right to elect to include the rFVIIIFc-XTEN-vWF fusion molecule in the collaboration. Sobi is required to make a payment to Biogen Idec to include this program in the collaboration agreement.

"We are pleased to include this new and innovative technology in our collaboration with Biogen Idec", said Geoffrey McDonough, CEO and President Sobi. "Although at an early stage, the XTEN technology has the potential to further extend FVIII half-life and could one day potentially become a next-generation long-acting factor for people with haemophilia A."

Biogen Idec and Sobi are collaborators in the development and commercialisation of Eloctate(TM) and Alprolix(TM) for haemophilia A and B. Biogen Idec leads development, has manufacturing rights, and has commercialisation rights in North America and all other regions in the world excluding the Sobi territory. Sobi has the right to opt in to assume final development and commercialisation in Europe, including Russia, the Middle East and Northern Africa. XTEN will now be added to this collaboration with similar terms to those of Eloctate and Alprolix.

- - -

About Haemophilia A

Haemophilia A is a rare, chronic, genetic disorder in which the ability of a person's blood to clot is impaired, due to missing or reduced levels of a protein known as factor VIII. People with haemophilia A experience recurrent and extended bleeding episodes that cause pain and irreversible joint damage. Some of these bleeding episodes can be life-threatening. According to the World Federation of Hemophilia, an estimated 142,000 people worldwide are identified as living with haemophilia A.^[1] Prophylactic injections of factor VIII can temporarily replace the clotting factor necessary to control bleeding and prevent new bleeding episodes.

About Sobi

Sobi is an international specialty healthcare company dedicated to rare diseases. Our mission is to develop and deliver innovative therapies and services to improve the lives of patients. The product portfolio is primarily focused on Inflammation and Genetic diseases, with two late stage biological development projects within Haemophilia. We also market a portfolio of specialty and rare disease products for partner companies. Sobi is a pioneer in biotechnology with world-class capabilities in protein biochemistry and biologics manufacturing. In 2013, Sobi had total revenues of SEK 2.2 billion (€253 M) and about 550 employees. The share (STO: SOBI) is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. More information is available at www.sobi.com.

 

For more information please contact

Media relations                                         Investor relations
Charlotte af Klercker                                Jörgen Winroth
Senior Communications Manager            Vice President, Head of Investor Relations
T: [phone]                                  T: [phone], [phone]
[e-mail]                 [e-mail]

 

The above information was released for public distribution on 19 September 2014, at 08:00 CET.

---

[1] World Federation of Hemophilia. Annual Global Survey 2012. http://www1.wfh.org/publications/files/pdf-1574.pdf

XTEN Decision

---

This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) via Globenewswire

HUG#1856982