AnGes & Brickell Biotech Announce Collaboration Agreement for the Development of a Novel DNA Vaccine Candidate for COVID-19

AnGes, Inc. recently announced a collaboration agreement with Brickell Biotech, Inc. through which Brickell has the right to develop AnGes’ proprietary investigational adjuvanted plasmid DNA vaccine intended to prevent SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in the US, South America, and certain emerging markets. AnGes is currently conducting Phase 1/2 clinical studies with its vaccine candidate in Japan, with data readouts expected through the first quarter of 2021. The results from these studies will guide AnGes’ and Brickell’s global development efforts of this novel vaccine candidate.

“We are pleased to enter into this collaboration agreement with Brickell in which we intend to leverage know-how, data and capabilities that Brickell acquired through its merger last year with another vaccine company,” said Ei Yamada, President and Chief Executive Officer of AnGes. “This collaboration also provides the opportunity to expand our vaccine candidate into additional markets outside of Japan.”

Under the terms of this agreement, AnGes will continue to lead the development of its vaccine candidate in Japan and Brickell will provide information and know-how that could be relevant to such development efforts. In exchange for this, Brickell has received the right to develop and, if approved, commercialize AnGes’ DNA vaccine in the US and certain underserved countries.

“We are excited by the opportunity to work with AnGes, a leading vaccine developer in Japan, to potentially bring a COVID-19 vaccine to the US and other countries to help address the global pandemic. AnGes is at the forefront of developing a vaccine for COVID-19 and was the first company in Japan to initiate a COVID-19 vaccine clinical study,” said Robert Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Brickell. “While Brickell remains firmly focused on initiating its U.S. Phase 3 pivotal program for sofpironium bromide for the treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis later this year, we look forward to reviewing AnGes’ clinical study results and then working together with them and the FDA to determine the best path forward.”

AnGes, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company founded in December 1999 based on an innovative discovery by researchers at Osaka University and focuses on the development of gene-based medicine. For its lead product, HGF Plasmid (gene therapy) for the treatment of critical limb ischemia, the company got the conditional and time-limited approval in March 2019. And its commercialization started in September 2019 in Japan. This is the world’s first commercialization using the Plasmid DNA method. Development of NF-κB Decoy Oligonucleotide for diseases including low back pain, and DNA vaccines for high blood pressure is also under way. Furthermore, AnGes started co-development of the DNA vaccine with Osaka University from March 2020 for COVID-19 in Japan. The DNA vaccine for COVID-19 utilizes the method of Plasmid DNA. For more information, visit https://www.anges.co.jp/en/

Brickell Biotech, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative and differentiated prescription therapeutics for the treatment of debilitating skin diseases. Brickell’s lead product candidate is sofpironium bromide, a novel and potential best-in-class treatment for primary axillary hyperhidrosis. The company expects to initiate its US Phase 3 pivotal program for sofpironium bromide in the fourth quarter of 2020. In addition, Brickell’s Japanese development partner for sofpironium bromide, Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., expects to receive a regulatory decision for sofpironium bromide gel, 5% in Japan, later this year.

Brickell’s executive management team and board of directors bring extensive experience in product development and global commercialization, having served in leadership roles at large global pharmaceutical companies and biotechs that have developed and/or launched successful products, including several that were first-in-class and/or achieved iconic status, such as Cialis, Taltz, Gemzar, Prozac, Cymbalta, and Juvederm. Brickell’s strategy is to leverage this experience to in-license, acquire, develop, and commercialize innovative products that Brickell believes can be successful in the currently underserved dermatology global marketplace. For more information, visit http://www.brickellbio.com.