AstraZeneca Secures Exclusive Global Rights to Redx’s Novel Anti-fibrotic Porcupine Inhibitor RXC006 in $377M Deal

Compiled by S.Li

On August 4 (local time), UK-based biopharmaceutical company Redx Pharma entered into a significant divestment agreement with AstraZeneca for RXC006, a Porcupine protein inhibitor targeting the Wnt signaling pathway. AstraZeneca will hold exclusive rights to develop and commercialize RXC006 for fibrotic diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Under this exclusive global rights transfer agreement, AstraZeneca will pay an early milestone payment of $17 million prior to the successful completion of Phase I clinical studies. Furthermore, contingent upon the successful achievement of milestones, Redx is eligible to receive up to $360 million in additional development, regulatory, and commercialization milestone payments from AstraZeneca. Redx is also entitled to receive tiered royalties of approximately 5% based on the net sales of the drug post-launch.

Porcupine inhibitors are a novel class of antifibrotic therapies that target the Wnt signaling pathway. Wnt ligands are highly expressed in fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and are closely associated with the hallmark lung scarring process (fibrosis) of IPF, serving as a potent driver of fibrogenesis. As pulmonary fibrosis progresses, the lungs of IPF patients lose their functional capacity, ultimately leading to respiratory failure and even death. Porcupine inhibitors block the secretion of Wnt ligands by fibrotic cells, thereby exerting antifibrotic effects. IPF is the most common form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. This life-threatening lung disease is characterized by high mortality, limited treatment options, and a median survival of only three years, with a prognosis worse than that of many cancers. In the United States, the annual incidence of IPF ranges from 6.8 to 16.3 per 100,000 individuals.

Redx will continue to execute its strategy of advancing treatments for oncology and fibrotic diseases, including the development of RXC004, a Porcupine inhibitor currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trials, and RXC007, an oral ROCK2 inhibitor targeting fibrotic diseases. RXC007 is expected to enter human clinical trials in 2021.

RXC006 is Redx’s second fibrosis therapy development program, with its preclinical data presented at the Anti-Fibrotic Drug Development Summit in late 2018. Extensive preclinical testing has demonstrated that RXC006 effectively inhibits the Wnt pathway and exerts potent anti-fibrotic effects in the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Previous studies have shown that Wnt pathway involvement increases with disease severity. Therefore, Redx believes that RXC006 may also be effective in patients with severe idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Currently, there are no effective treatment options for patients with severe IPF other than palliative care.

The clinical development of RXC006 was delayed due to early funding constraints and other factors at Redx. The licensing deal reached with AstraZeneca has boosted Redx’s share price, marking a turning point after a challenging year.

Reference Source:

1、Redx signs out licensing agreement with AstraZeneca

2、Struggling Redx out-licenses fibrotic asset to AstraZeneca, sees stock sky rocket

3、Redx Pharma announces new drug development candidate for fibrosis