Gilead and Hookipa Announce Collaboration to Advance Innovative Therapies Toward Functional Cures for HIV and Hepatitis B

VIENNA, Austria and FOSTER CITY, Calif., June 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/-- Hookipa Biotech AG（"Hookipa"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering innovative active immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases, and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (“Gilead”), a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need, today announced that they have entered into a research collaboration and license agreement. Under the agreement, Gilead obtains exclusive rights to utilize Hookipa’s TheraT® and Vaxwave® arenavirus vector-based immunotherapy platforms for two major chronic infectious disease indications: hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead Sciences will make an upfront payment of $10 million. In addition, Hookipa Pharma will be eligible to receive up to $400 million in milestone payments upon the achievement of specified development, regulatory, and commercial milestones. Gilead Sciences will fund all research and development activities. Hookipa Pharma will also be entitled to receive tiered royalties on net sales.

“Gilead Sciences is a global leader in innovative therapies for major viral diseases and is our ideal partner, helping us to further expand our drug pipeline for the benefit of patients. This partnership strongly validates our unique immune technology, enabling us to concentrate our focus and resources in the field of immuno-oncology,” said Mr. Joern Aldag, CEO of Hookipa Pharma.：“Collaboration on HIV and HBV programs complements our extensive efforts in the field of infectious diseases, including our exciting proprietary preventive CMV vaccine.”

“Gilead is committed to advancing innovative therapies for the functional cure of HIV and hepatitis B,” said Dr. Bill Lee, Executive Vice President of Research at Gilead Sciences. “Hookipa Pharma’s unique vaccine technology has demonstrated favorable safety and immunogenicity in Phase 1 clinical trials. We believe it can play a complementary role alongside other therapies Gilead is developing in these two disease areas. Our ultimate long-term goal is to enable millions of patients worldwide to be free from lifelong antiviral therapy.”