Calypso Biotech SA announced today that it has entered a global licensing and collaboration agreement with EA Pharma Co., Ltd. to develop CALY-001, a best-in-class anti-MMP-9 fully human monoclonal antibody.

CALY-001 is a promising novel treatment for indications such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), potentially capable of preventing disease complications.

"This agreement highlights the strong potential for CALY-001, which possesses a unique mode of action through binding and inhibiting active MMP-9" says Alain Vicari, CEO of Calypso Biotech. "By teaming with EA Pharma, a leader in gastrointestinal diseases with full value chain, we will fulfill our vision to bring new therapeutics to patients suffering from severe gastrointestinal diseases. Beyond IBD, CALY-001 represents a promising and advantageous therapeutic option for several oncology, inflammation and fibrosis indications".

Under the agreement, Calypso Biotech will grant EA Pharma an exclusive and world-wide license for the development, manufacturing and marketing of CALY-001. Both companies will collaborate to develop CALY-001 for IBD. Calypso Biotech will receive an upfront, milestone and royalty payments from EA Pharma. Staatz Business Development & Strategy acted as transaction advisor to Calypso Biotech.

About MMP-9
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is an extracellular matrix-degrading enzyme. In IBD, MMP-9 is excessively expressed and activated within the inflamed gastrointestinal tissue. MMP-9 is also associated with other pathologies including cancer, chronic inflammation and fibrotic diseases. MMP-9 is mostly secreted as inactive pro-enzyme, which is activated when cleaved by other proteinases.   

About CALY-001
CALY-001 is a novel, best-in-class fully human therapeutic antibody that uniquely binds to and neutralizes the active form of MMP-9. "This selective mode of action prevents in vivo antibody elimination through binding to the abundant pro-enzyme form of MMP-9, while preserving full enzymatic inhibition of activated and disease-relevant MMP-9" highlights Yolande Chvatchko, CSO of Calypso Biotech.

About Calypso Biotech SA
Calypso Biotech SA is a Swiss biotechnology company focused on the research and development of novel biologics in the gastrointestinal disease area. Calypso Biotech SA was established in 2013 as a spin-off from Merck and is funded by Merck Ventures.

About Merck Ventures
Merck Ventures is the strategic, corporate venture capital arm of Merck. Its mandate is to invest in innovative technologies and products with the potential to significantly impact Merck‘s core business areas. Merck Ventures has a significant focus on early-stage investing and company creation including the creation of spin-offs to leverage Merck‘s science and technology base.

About EA Pharma Co., Ltd.
EA Pharma Co., Ltd. was inaugurated in April 2016 by integration of the Eisai Group’s gastrointestinal business unit with more than 60-year history and the Ajinomoto Group’s gastrointestinal business unit centered on amino acids. EA Pharma is a gastrointestinal specialty pharma, having a full value chain of research & development, production & logistics and sales & marketing.