Kiadis licenses previously undisclosed pre-clinical K-NK-cell programs to Sanofi, with total potential deal value of €875 million, plus royalties

• Combination of Kiadis’ CD38 knock out K-NK cells with Sanofi’s anti-CD38 antibody Sarclisa enables optimal tumor cell killing, and offers a potential first-in-class treatment for patients with multiple myeloma
• Kiadis receives €17.5 million up front payment; potential for up to €857.5 million in preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, and up to double-digit royalties
• Kiadis to hold conference call with investors and analysts at 16:00 CET today

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, July 8, 2020 – Kiadis Pharma N.V. (“Kiadis” or the “Company”) (Euronext Amsterdam and Brussels: KDS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative natural killer cell therapies for patients with life-threatening diseases, today announces the exclusive license of Kiadis’ previously undisclosed K-NK004 program to Sanofi. The agreement covers Kiadis’ proprietary CD38 knock out (CD38KO) K-NK therapeutic for combination with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies, including Sarclisa, Sanofi’s recently approved therapy for patients with multiple myeloma. Additionally, Sanofi has obtained exclusive rights to use Kiadis’ K-NK platform for two undisclosed pre-clinical programs.

As part of the agreement, Kiadis will receive a €17.5 million up front payment and will be entitled to receive up to €857.5 million upon Sanofi’s achievement of preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones. Kiadis will also receive up to low double-digit royalties based on commercial sales of approved products resulting from this agreement.  

Natural killer (NK) cells are the human body’s first line of defense against cancer and infections. Antibodies work synergistically with NK cells to kill tumor cells in a process called antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Treatment of multiple myeloma with anti-CD38 antibodies, such as Sarclisa, deplete the patients’ own NK cells, as natural NK cells also express CD38. Kiadis’ CD38KO K-NK cells are NK cells that have been modified to prevent expression of CD38, and are thus resistant to this effect. Therefore, adjunctive infusion of CD38KO K-NK cells will reinvigorate the natural synergy between NK cells and antibodies to kill tumor cells, optimizing efficacy.