Compass Therapeutics, Inc. (“Compass”; OTCQB: CMPX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary antibody therapeutics to treat cancer, and TRIGR Therapeutics, Inc. (“TRIGR”), a private biotechnology oncology company, today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement, under which Compass, through a subsidiary, will acquire TRIGR, a private cancer drug development company founded by George Uy, an industry veteran, and a former commercial executive at Roche, in a stock-for-stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Compass’s subsidiary will acquire all of the outstanding shares of TRIGR. In addition, Miranda Toledano, TRIGR’s Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer will be joining the Compass Board of Directors. The transaction was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies.
At the core of this transaction is a differentiated bispecific antibody targeting both DLL4 and VEGF-A, which inhibits both DLL4-mediated Notch signaling and VEGF signaling, which has been renamed CTX-009 (formerly designated TR009/ABL001/NOV1501). CTX-009 has completed a Phase 1 dose-escalation study and is in a Phase 1b study in patients with solid tumors in S. Korea, where it has been observed to be well tolerated. In addition, there have been multiple confirmed partial responses (PRs) by RECIST criteria in several tumors in those studies, including PRs in colorectal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, gastric cancer, and pancreatic cancer. The Phase 1b study in combination with chemotherapy is expected to be completed in the second half of this year. Compass plans to file an IND in the US in H2 2021 and initiate clinical studies in patients with cholangiocarcinoma, ovarian cancer, and advanced colorectal cancer. Exclusive global rights to the program, except for S. Korea and China, are held by TRIGR through a license with ABL Bio Inc. (KOSDAQ: 298380). South Korean rights are held by Handok Inc. (KOSDAQ: 002390) and China rights were out-licensed to Elpiscience Biopharmaceuticals Co., Limited, under a license agreement executed on Jan 20th, 2021.
“The time now has come to maximize the therapeutic potential of this promising bispecific antibody, and I am confident that Compass has the management and development capabilities supporting the goal to advance CTX-009 to Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies in multiple indications,” said George Uy, TRIGR Founder, and Chief Executive Officer. “I am honored to join the Compass board and look forward to CTX-009’s success as part of Compass’s stellar immunotherapy pipeline,” said Miranda Toledano, TRIGR’s Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer.
“CTX-009 presents an important addition to our pipeline of novel therapeutic antibodies and bispecific antibodies. It is uncommon to see multiple confirmed partial responses in a Phase 1 study in such an advanced patient population, and we are excited to begin to develop a robust Phase 2 program to evaluate the therapeutic potential of CTX-009 across all of the indications where this bispecific has shown substantial promise to-date” said Thomas Schuetz, MD, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Compass Therapeutics. “When we reviewed the data for CTX-009, we immediately saw the fit with our corporate strategy of advancing the best therapeutic candidates forward, regardless of origin,” said Vered Bisker-Leib, Compass President and Chief Operating Officer. “We then moved quickly to conduct due diligence and reach agreement on a merger structure designed to deliver enhanced value for the shareholders of both companies”.
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Under the terms of the agreement, TRIGR will be acquired by Compass’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Compass Acquisition Company, LLC, subject to certain customary conditions including the consent of the holders of a majority of TRIGR’s common shares. The consideration payable to TRIGR shareholders at closing totals an aggregate of 10,265,154 shares of Compass’s common stock, issued as unregistered shares in a private placement. In addition, TRIGR shareholders are eligible to receive up to $9 million, representing earnout payments that depend on certain events, including $5 million upon BLA approval of CTX-009 in the United States. Following the issuance of the share consideration, Compass has agreed to register such shares for resale by the recipients thereof. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021.
Source: Biospace