LifeArc co-founded company RQ Bio signs licensing agreement with AstraZeneca worth up to $157m plus royalties for monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2

• AstraZeneca granted exclusive worldwide licence to develop, manufacture and commercialise RQ Bio's existing early-stage monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 and right to exclusively licence additional mAbs against SARS-CoV-2
• RQ Bio launched to develop treatments and preventative therapies based on potent broad spectrum mAbs to provide instant and long-lasting immunity for vulnerable people at risk of severe disease or death from existing, emerging and new viral infections
• Hugo Fry, CCO at Imbria and former Sanofi Executive, appointed CEO
• Supported through continued deep collaborations with the University of Oxford and LifeArc
• LifeArc is co-founder and sole funder of RQ Bio and has provided resources and expertise from across the charity, working collaboratively with the other founders.

LONDON, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeArc today announced that RQ Biotechnology Ltd (RQ Bio), a company it co-founded, has signed a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca PLC (AZN). Under the terms of the agreement, RQ Bio has granted AstraZeneca an exclusive worldwide licence to develop, manufacture and commercialise RQ Bio's existing early-stage mAbs against SARS-CoV-2 and a right of first refusal to take an exclusive licence in respect of any additional mAbs against SARS-CoV-2.

RQ Bio will receive upfront and milestone payments of up to $157 million and will be eligible to receive single digit royalties on sales. The successful licensing deal was supported by Oxford University Innovation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Oxford that manages the University's technology transfer and consulting activities, who worked efficiently and creatively with all parties on the corresponding technology licences and the filing of intellectual properties.

RQ Bio today emerges from stealth mode announcing its launch as a new UK-based biotechnology company. The company, which is headquartered in London, is dedicated to developing treatments and preventative therapies based on potent broad spectrum mAbs to provide instant and long-lasting immunity for vulnerable people at risk of severe disease or death from existing, emerging and new viral infections.

"LifeArc is committed to backing leading UK academics and scientists, and we were inspired to fund RQ Bio because of the exceptional group of founders who are so passionately dedicated to finding new treatments and preventative therapies for viral infections in areas of high unmet patient need," said Clare Terlouw, Head of LifeArc Ventures. "LifeArc provided a wide range of support to help RQ Bio execute on its business plan, including financial backing from our venture team, scientific expertise and access to its world-class laboratory facilities. We look forward to further supporting RQ Bio as it becomes a world-leading infectious disease company."