Biogen Completes Acquisition of Human Immunology Biosciences

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 2, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) has completed acquisition of Human Immunology Biosciences, A privately held clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on targeted therapies for patients with severe immune-mediated diseases (IMD).

“We are very excited to add felzartamab to our portfolio, which will further strengthen our presence in immunology with a promising late-stage therapeutic candidate that is being investigated in multiple indications,” he said. Priya Singhal, MD, MSc, Public Health, Biogen Chief Development Officer. “Upon completion of the transaction, we will begin working with our colleagues at HI-Bio on plans to advance felzartamab to Phase 3 and ultimately deliver innovative treatments to patients with unmet needs across multiple rare diseases.”

“I look forward to the significant progress HI-Bio will make as part of Biogen, and the potential to combine our talented HI-Bio team with Biogen’s global infrastructure to support the development of felzartamab and accelerate Biogen’s expanding immunology portfolio,” he said. Travis Murdoch, Physician, CEO of HI-Bio. “From our engagement over many months – as we considered how HI-Bio’s programs could best evolve – it is clear that our teams share many of the same values, including being science-driven and focused on execution, and a core mission to positively impact patients with serious diseases.”

Felzartamab has shown positive interim results from a phase 2 study in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and from a completed phase 2 study in antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). These data were presented at the recent European Society of Nephrology Congress in Stockholm. Data from the AMR study were also published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Felzartamab has also shown proof of concept in a phase 2 study in primary membranous nephropathy (PMN), and there are plans to advance felzartamab to phase 3 in AMR, IgAN, and PMN.

About Felzartamab
Felzartamab is an investigational therapeutic human monoclonal antibody directed against CD38, a protein expressed on mature plasma cells. Clinical studies have shown that felzartamab selectively depletes CD38+ plasma cells, which may enable applications that will ultimately improve clinical outcomes in a wide range of pathogenic antibody-mediated diseases. Felzartamab was originally developed by MorphoSys AG for multiple myeloma. HI-Bio has obtained an exclusive license for the rights to develop and commercialize felzartamab for all indications in all countries and territories excluding China (including Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan).

Felzartamab is an investigational drug candidate that has not yet been approved by any regulatory authority, and its safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.

On antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in kidney transplant recipients
Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a leading cause of kidney transplant failure, with chronic AMR affecting approximately 12% of kidney transplant recipients per year in the United States.¹ AMR has become a leading cause of late graft loss in renal transplant recipients. Effective treatment options for chronic AMR are currently limited.²

About Primary Membranous Nephropathy (PMN)
Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is a rare parenchymal renal disease with an estimated incidence of approximately 1/100,000 per year in the United States.³ There are currently no therapies approved specifically for PMN. The standard of care includes off-label use of various agents, including immunosuppressive therapies such as cyclophosphamide and B-cell depleting agents targeting CD20 such as rituximab.⁴ Despite these strategies, approximately one third of patients fail to achieve remission.⁴

About IgA nephropathy (IgAN)
Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerular kidney disease worldwide. It is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease, with up to 40% of patients with IgAN developing end-stage renal disease approximately 20 years after diagnosis. IgAN accounts for approximately 40% of all native kidney biopsies in Japan, 25% in Europe, 12% in the United States, but less than 5% in Central Africa.⁵

About Biogen
Founded in 1978, Biogen is a leading biotechnology company that pioneers innovative science to deliver new medicines that transform the lives of patients and create value for shareholders and our communities. We apply a deep understanding of human biology and leverage multiple modalities to develop best-in-class treatments or therapies that deliver superior outcomes. Our approach is to take bold risks, balanced with return on investment, to deliver long-term growth.

We routinely publish information that may be important to investors on our website at www.biogen.com. Follow us on social media – Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube.