Astellas Pharma Inc today announced that it exercised, and closed on its exclusive option to acquire Potenza Therapeutics, Inc. ("Potenza") on December 13, 2018, U.S. Eastern Time. This acquisition marks the successful outcome of a collaboration agreement entered into in 2015 to build a portfolio of novel immuno-oncology (IO) therapies. The clinical IO therapies developed through this collaboration may also provide a platform for IO combinations with Astellas' existing non-IO programs for life cycle management and future novel IO combinations.

"This transaction underscores Astellas' commitment to innovation and scientific partnerships to advance our creation of value for patients," said Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., President and CEO, Astellas. "In oncology, Astellas has focused on developing treatments for unmet medical needs with novel mechanisms of action and modalities. We believe the novel assets we have developed with Potenza have the potential to make an even more pronounced difference for patients in need."

Through the research and development collaboration over the past three and a half years, Astellas and Potenza have discovered and developed three novel investigational new drugs (INDs) with the potential to treat various cancers that are non-responsive or resistant to the current generation of IO therapies. This portfolio of programs targeting immune stimulation, immune checkpoint inhibition, and regulatory T cell function includes:

ASP8374/PTZ-201, an anti-TIGIT antibody (immune checkpoint inhibitor) and ASP1948/PTZ-329, an anti-NRP1 antibody (Treg function inhibitor), both of which are currently in Phase 1 clinical studies;

ASP1951/PTZ-522, a novel format GITR agonistic antibody (T cell priming & costimulation), which has recently achieved IND clearance.

Upon the closing of this transaction, Potenza became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astellas, establishing a competitive and fully owned clinical IO pipeline.

"We are extremely proud of what the experienced Potenza team has accomplished to discover and create innovative therapeutics for the treatment of cancers," said Dan Hicklin, Ph.D., President and CEO, Potenza. "Over the past three and a half years, we have enjoyed a successful and productive partnership with Astellas. I am pleased that these therapies will now have access to the resources of a large international company, with world-class R&D and the strategic and financial backing to support the development of these innovative potential new medicines for cancer patients in need."

By exercising its options under the Warrant Purchase Agreement, Astellas paid an upfront fee of $164.6 million to acquire Potenza and Potenza's shareholders will be eligible for additional payments that total up to $240.1 million, depending on the progress of various programs in clinical development.

Astellas is reviewing the impact of the acquisition on its financial result for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019.

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