Casi, Juventas restructure agreement as cell therapy moves toward trials

By The Science Advisory Board staff writers

September 29, 2020 -- Casi Pharmaceuticals has restructured its partnership with Juventas Cell Therapy for that firm's CNCT19 investigational CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.

Under the original deal, Casi received a worldwide license to commercialize CNCT19, which is being developed for treatment of patients with relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Juventas was responsible for clinical development, manufacturing, and supply.

In addition, Casi also invested in Juventas' series A financing, and was responsible for payment of certain sales royalties and a development milestone worth 70 million Chinese yuan ($10.3 million U.S.) upon initiation of registration trials.

Now, Juvetnas and its shareholders have agreed to certain terms and conditions in order to facilitate its series B financing. Under the supplementary agreement that took effect on September 22, Casi and Juventas will now partner to co-commercialize CNCT19 and jointly be responsible for forming an integrated marketing team. Casi will remain responsible for recruiting and establishing a sales team to commercialize CNCT19. What's more, Casi has gained co-commercial rights to a second pipeline product from Juventas, subject to certain terms and conditions.

For its part, Juventas will waive the 70 million Chinese yuan ($10.3 million) milestone payment and the two companies will now share a percentage of total net profits, with Casi receiving a tiered percentage up to 50% of the net profit of commercial sales depending on annual net sales. Casi will also be responsible for single-digit royalty fee equal to a percentage of net sales that varies by region.

Also, Casi Wuxi Bio will invest 70 million Chinese yuan ($10.3 million) in Juventas' series A Plus equity, resulting in equity ownership of approximately 19.65% after its series B financing is completed.


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