PPF breidt zijn investering in de gezondheidssector uit door de verwerving van een aanzienlijk belang in T-celtherapiebedrijf Autolus Therapeutics
- Investering levert 19,2% van de aandelen in Autolus op
- Autolus is de tweede grootste investering van PPF in de gezondheidszorgsector, na het biotechnologiebedrijf SOTIO, dat de meerderheid van PPF’s bezit
PRAAG– (BUSINESS WIRE) – PPF kondigt vandaag de overname aan van een belang van 19,2% in Autolus Therapeutics plc, een leider in de volgende generatie T-cel programmeertechnologieën. De aandelen werden via NASDAQ in de markt verworven.
Autolus Therapeutics plc (“Autolus”) is een leider in T-cel programmeertechnologieën en ontwikkelt een pijplijn van volgende generatie T-cel therapieën gericht op zowel hematologische kankers als solide tumoren. Gericht op de ontwikkeling van nauwkeurig gerichte, gecontroleerde en zeer actieve CAR-T-celproducten, wil Autolus T-celtherapieën een zeer gunstig veiligheidsprofiel en verbeterde klinische effectiviteit bieden om kankercellen beter te herkennen, hun afweermechanismen af te breken en aan te vallen en te doden deze cellen. Verwacht wordt dat het hoofdprogramma AUTO1 later dit jaar deelneemt aan een cruciale fase II-studie bij patiënten met recidiverende of refractaire acute B-lymfocytaire leukemie bij volwassenen (“adult ALL”) met een verwachte aanvraag voor een vergunning voor het in de handel brengen in 2021.
PPF Expands its Investment in the Healthcare Sector Through Acquisition of Significant Stake in T Cell Therapy Company Autolus Therapeutics
- Investment provides 19.2% stake in Autolus
- Autolus is PPF’s second largest investment in the healthcare sector, after PPF’s majority-owned biotechnology company SOTIO
PRAGUE–(BUSINESS WIRE)– PPF today announces the acquisition of a 19.2% stake in Autolus Therapeutics plc, a leader in next-generation T cell programming technologies. The shares were acquired in the market through NASDAQ.
Autolus Therapeutics plc (“Autolus”) is a leader in T cell programming technologies and is developing a pipeline of next generation T cell therapies targeting both hematological cancers and solid tumors. Focused on the development of precisely targeted, controlled and highly active CAR-T cell products, Autolus aims to provide T cell therapies with very favorable safety profile and enhanced clinical efficacy to better recognize cancer cells, break down their defense mechanisms, and attack and kill these cells. The lead program AUTO1 is expected to enter a pivotal phase II study in patients with adult relapsed or refractory acute B lymphocytic leukemia (“adult ALL”) later this year with an anticipated filing for marketing authorization in 2021.
With the investment into Autolus, PPF Group N.V. (“PPF”) significantly increased its commitment to the healthcare sector. Next to Autolus, PPF’s majority-owned biotechnology company SOTIO a.s. (“SOTIO”) is aiming to become a fully-integrated oncology specialty pharma company. Together with SOTIO, PPF have built a biotechnology portfolio through in-house research and development, investments, acquisitions and in licensing of products with companies like NBE-Therapeutics, Cellestia Biotech, Cytune Pharma or Lead Discovery Center. SOTIO is developing its proprietary dendritic cell-based cell therapy platform DCVAC and has a significant manufacturing and regulatory expertise in the domain of cellular therapies. SOTIO also recently initiated a Phase I/Ib clinical trial with its interleukin-15 superagonist SO-C101.
“We are very excited by our investment into Autolus. The data published by Autolus on their CAR-T programs is very promising and their long-term ambitions are a perfect match with PPF’s strategy in healthcare,” said Ladislav Bartonicek, shareholder of PPF responsible for the biotechnology sector. “Our investment in Autolus confirms the long term commitment of PPF and SOTIO to build a strong biotechnology portfolio developing a broad range of its own oncology products and investing in various biotech companies with promising new therapies.”
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Contacts
Jitka Tkadlecová
Spokeswoman for PPF Group
T +420 224 174 410
M +420 725 461 574
E-mail: spokesperson@ppf.eu
www.ppf.eu
Richard Kapsa
Head of Communication for SOTIO
T +420 224 174 448
M +420 603 280 971
E-mail: kapsa@sotio.com
www.sotio.com