Baker McKenzie advised German MODAG GmbH, Wendelsheim, on a strategic collaboration with NYSE listed Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) on the exclusive worldwide licensing and development of MODAG's lead compound anle138b and the related compound, sery433 and joined development of the lead compound for the multiple system atrophy (MSA).
Anle138b targets pathological alpha-synuclein oligomers and is being evaluated in a Phase 1 study in patients with neurodegenerative diseases for potential disease modification. Under the terms of the agreement and pending regulatory clearance, Teva will receive an exclusive global license to develop, manufacture and commercialize anle138b and sery433. The companies will jointly develop the compounds for the multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) indications based on early-stage clinical studies, and consider exploring additional indications based on clinical outcomes.
Baker McKenzie advised MODAG with a cross border team of US and European life sciences lawyers led by Munich partner Berthold A. Hummel on all legal issues related to the partnering and strategic collaboration with Teva Pharmaceuticals.
"With our excellent legal expertise and special life science transactional know-how, we were able to efficiently support our client in this licensing and collaboration transaction, enabling MODAG to enter the next phase of its mission in partnering and working alongside an organization with a strong foundation in neuroscience and extensive expertise in the development of therapeutics", comments lead partner Berthold A. Hummel.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) has been developing and producing medicines to improve people’s lives for more than a century. Teva is a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day, and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry.
MODAG, a privately held German biotech company, is focused on the research and development of therapeutics and diagnostics for neurodegenerative diseases. MODAG's innovative approach offers a unique combination of early diagnosis and targeted disease-modifying therapies for severe neurological disorders. MODAG's collaborations with the top-tier US and European research institutions, combined with its founders and management team's interdisciplinary research and development expertise, provide ideal conditions for accelerated implementation of clinical applications.
Baker McKenzie's Corporate / M&A and life sciences team regularly advises big pharma, financial investors and early stage biotech companies on domestic and international healthcare transactions.
Most recently, Baker McKenzie advised LSP as lead investor on a EUR 20 million Series A Equity Financing in Innovative Molecules, Numab Therapeutics on a CHF 100 million Cross Over Financing, Allecra Therapeutics on an exclusive license agreement with Shanghai Haini Pharmaceuticals, CatalYm on a EUR 50 million Series B financing led by Vesalius Capital to advance its immunoncology development, Casdin Capital on a USD 50 million extension of the Series B Equity Financing in DNA Script, Chr. Hansen Holding on the acquisition of Jennewein Biotechnologie, BioMedPartners on its Series A Equity Financing of EUR 10.7 million in Tubulis, CureVac on its strategic mRNA technology collaboration with GSK, LSP Life Science Partners on a USD 38.5 Million Series B Financing in DNA Script, listed 4SC AG on a capital increase and international private placement, Galapagos on its 10 year global research and development collaboration with Gilead and MODAG on a EUR 12 million Series A Financing.
Legal advisor to MODAG:
Baker McKenzie
Lead:
Corporate/M&A: Berthold A. Hummel (partner, Munich);
Transactional IP: Julia Schieber (senior associate, Zurich)
Team:
Corporate/M&A: Julia Braun (partner, Munich), Michelle Karrer (associate, Munich)
IP: Jane Hobson (partner, London), Oren Livne (partner, New York), Pete Chapman (senior associate, London), Indhu Birdy (senior associate, London)
Antitrust & Trade: Dr. Christian Burholt (partner, Berlin), Katrin Kurz (associate, Berlin), Ann-Kristin Freiheit (associate, Frankfurt)
Foreign Trade Law: Anahita Thoms (partner, Berlin), Alexander Ehrle (associate, Berlin)