Vaccibody – now Nykode – in vaccine deal with Regeneron

Nykode has signed a multi-target a license and collaboration agreement covering five programmes on vaccines for cancer and infectiuous disease. The Olso-based biopharmaceutical company will receive an upfront payment of US$30m and an equity investment of US$20m. In addition, the company is eligible to more than US$875m in potential milestones, plus high single-digit to low double-digit tiered royalties.

The agreement includes five distinct programmes, which may include several vaccine candidates. Nykode Therapeutics will be responsible for vaccine generation and characterisation, as well as product supply through the end of Phase 1 trials. Regeneron will be responsible for antigen identification, preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing and commercialisation.

“We are very pleased to have entered into this groundbreaking agreement with Regeneron that may accelerate the expansion of our pipeline and fully leverage our unique and modular vaccine technology platform within multiple, large and commercially significant disease areas, in line with our corporate strategy”, Michael Engsig, CEO of Nykode Therapeutics, said. “The agreement further validates Nykode Therapeutics’ position as a leading next-generation immunotherapy platform company.”

Agnete B. Fredriksen, Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer of Nykode Therapeutics, continued: “Regeneron has generated unique know how in selecting and validating immunogenic antigens from extensive analysis of patient material. These can now be incorporated into our vaccine platform to deliver the antigens directly to antigen presenting cells and optimise the likelihood of inducing strong and broad clinically relevant immune responses.”