Kinnate Biopharma Sells Investigational Pan-RAF Inhibitor to Pierre Fabre Laboratories

Kinnate Biopharma Inc. and Pierre Fabre Médicament, SAS recently announced their agreement to the sale of the company’s investigational pan-RAF inhibitor, exarafenib, and other pan-RAF program assets pursuant to the APA entered into by the parties. The sale of global rights is in furtherance of the company’s previously announced exploration of strategic alternatives.

“We are delighted to partner with Pierre Fabre Laboratories, a company that brings significant expertise in the global development and commercialization of targeted therapies in RAF and RAS driven solid tumors,” said Nima Farzan, Chief Executive Officer of Kinnate. “The sale of exarafenib and our pan-RAF program assets to Pierre Fabre will expand the reach of these programs globally, allowing the promise of targeted therapies for patients with NRAS driven melanoma and BRAF driven solid tumors to further develop.”

“Based on the clinical and preclinical data generated to date, we believe exarafenib may present a best-in-class product profile as a pan-RAF inhibitor targeting solid tumors such as NRAS mutant melanoma, for which there are currently no approved targeted therapies. The addition of exarafenib and other pan-RAF program assets from Kinnate is complementary to our existing BRAF and MEK inhibitors portfolio with encorafenib and binimetinib. This acquisition continues to expand our efforts in precision oncology and provide us with the opportunity to broaden our reach to patients in need for targeted therapies in RAF and RAS solid tumors,” added Francesco Hofmann, Head of Research and Development for Medical Care at Pierre Fabre Laboratories.

Under the terms of the APA, Pierre Fabre Laboratories has purchased exarafenib and other pan-RAF assets and will assume 100% of the ongoing program and costs associated with these assets. In consideration, Kinnate will receive a total consideration of up to $31 million, consisting of $500,000 at closing, and a $30.5 million payment, contingent upon the earlier of the dosing of the first patient in the first pivotal trial for exarafenib or any other acquired asset, or the application for an accelerated approval pursuant to the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program for exarafenib or any other acquired asset, or the submission of a marketing application for regulatory approval for exarafenib or any other acquired asset. In addition, Pierre Fabre Laboratories will assume up to $5 million of trade payables for the transferred assets. The transaction is not subject to closing conditions and closed upon signing.

As previously announced in connection with Kinnate’s transaction with XOMA Corporation, Kinnate stockholders will receive 100% of the net proceeds (after deducting appliable costs, expenses, taxes or other deductions pursuant to the Contingent Value Rights Agreement to be entered into in connection with the proposed transaction with XOMA (the CVR Agreement) payable from the $30.5 million contingent payment, assuming the closing of the proposed transaction with XOMA occurs and such proceeds are received within 5 years from the closing date thereof, pursuant to the CVR Agreement. There will be no net proceeds from the $500,000 closing payment, as such payment will only cover transaction expenses. Lazard served as financial advisor to Kinnate, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati served as legal counsel.

Kinnate Biopharma Inc. is a clinical-stage precision oncology company founded with a mission to inspire hope in those battling cancer by expanding on the promise of targeted therapies. The Company concentrates its efforts on addressing known oncogenic drivers for which there are currently no approved targeted therapies and to overcome the limitations associated with existing cancer therapies, such as non-responsiveness or the development of acquired and intrinsic resistance.

Exarafenib, an investigational pan-RAF inhibitor which targets cancers with BRAF and NRAS-driven alterations, was one of the Company’s lead product candidates. The Company’s other lead product candidate is an investigational FGFR inhibitor, KIN-3248, which is designed for cancers with FGFR2 and FGFR3 alterations. The Company also has early-stage programs, including a c-MET inhibitor that targets resistant variants and a brain penetrant CDK4 selective program. For more information, visit Kinnate.com.

Pierre Fabre Laboratories is a leading French medical and beauty care company with 4 decades of experience in innovation, development, manufacturing, and commercialization in oncology. The company dedicated about 80% of its R&D spendings to oncology in 2022 with a focus on targeted therapies. Its current commercial portfolio in oncology covers colorectal, breast and lung cancers, melanoma, hematology, and pre-cancerous skin conditions like actinic keratosis.

In 2022, Pierre Fabre Laboratories posted 2.7 billion euros in revenues, 69% of which came from international sales in 120 countries. Established in the South-West of France since its creation in 1962, the company manufactures 90% of its products in France and employs some 10,000 people worldwide. The company is 86%-owned by the Pierre Fabre Foundation, a government-recognized public-interest foundation, and by its own employees through an international employee stock ownership plan. Pierre Fabre Laboratories’ sustainability policy has been assessed by the independent AFNOR Certification body at the “Exemplary” level of its CSR label (ISO 26 000 standard for sustainable development).  For more information, visit www.pierre-fabre.com.