Under the terms of the agreement, Wistar a non-profit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania grants Active Biotech a global exclusive license to develop and commercialize tasquinimod in combination therapy. Active Biotech will pay Wistar low single-digit royalties on its income in relation to in-market sales by Active Biotech or income generated from a partner agreement relating to the use of tasquinimod in multiple myeloma.

The expansion cohort of the phase Ib/IIa clinical study investigating tasquinimod in combination with a standard multiple myeloma oral regimen of ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (IRd) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma is advancing towards results late in the year. The study is conducted in an academic partnership with the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, with Dr. Dan Vogl as principal investigator. Detailed information about the study is available on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04405167).

"Licensing of these patent rights is an important step in the strategic direction of developing tasquinimod as a new treatment for hematologic malignancies. The ongoing clinical study with tasquinimod in combination therapy of patients with relapsed refractory myeloma shows reassuring signals of efficacy and safety and we look forward to completing the study towards the end of this year” said Helén Tuvesson CEO of Active Biotech.

“The results from the myeloma trial strengthen our belief that tasquinimod can effect blood cancers where the bone marrow microenvironment is driving the disease, which is encouraging ahead of our start of studies in myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer with high medical need” said Erik Vahtola CMO of Active Biotech.