Teva & Abingworth Enter Strategic Development Funding Agreement

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Launch Therapeutics, Inc., recently announced a clinical collaboration agreement to further accelerate the clinical research program of Teva’s ICS-SABA (TEV-‘248).  Teva and Abingworth, a leading international life sciences investment group, part of global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG), today also announced a strategic development funding agreement in which Abingworth provides Teva up to $150 million to offset Teva’s ICS/SABA (TEV-‘248) program costs.

As part of the clinical collaboration agreement, Launch Therapeutics, a clinical development company backed by Abingworth and Carlyle, will have the lead role in the operational execution and management of the planned clinical trials, focused on accelerating Teva’s ICS-SABA (TEV-‘248) clinical research program. Teva will retain primary responsibility for manufacturing, regulatory interactions in the US, and commercialization.

If TEV-‘248 receives US FDA regulatory approval, Abingworth will be eligible to receive fixed payments as well as success payments based on ICS/SABA sales.  Teva will recognize the funding as a reduction in research and development expenses and will retain full rights to the Company’s ICS/SABA program.

Teva’s TEV-‘248 has potential to be the first ICS/SABA for both adult and pediatric indications, combining fluticasone propionate and albuterol sulfate delivered via Teva’s breath-activated, multi-dose dry powder inhaler (MDPI), which is used with other approved medicines in Teva’s respiratory product portfolio.

“As we execute our Pivot to Growth Strategy, we are focused on accelerating our late-stage innovative pipeline and delivering meaningful new therapies to people living with unmet medical need,” said Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President, Teva Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer. “We are especially excited about the potential to deliver this new asthma therapy to patients working alongside the team at Launch Therapeutics, who have valuable experience in expediting clinical development programs.”

“Launch Therapeutics is excited to partner with Teva to co-develop its ICS-SABA (TEV-‘248) clinical program and to bring this vital therapy to asthma patients,” said Anshul Thakral, CEO of Launch Therapeutics. “Bridging together Teva’s deep therapeutic expertise with Launch Therapeutics’ profound clinical and operational expertise generates value to execute and accelerate this program. Launch Therapeutics is committed to upholding uncompromising standards for quality, achieving key milestones, and delivering this transformative therapy to patients.”

“Abingworth is thrilled to enter this strategic development funding agreement with Teva around its exciting ICS-SABA (TEV-‘248) program. It is another great example of where we can put capital to work, alongside the operational expertise of Launch Therapeutics, to seek to accelerate the late-stage clinical development of a highly promising program towards patients in need of new therapies,” commented Bali Muralidhar, Managing Partner, Chief Investment Officer & COO at Abingworth.

Short-Acting Beta-Agonists (SABAs) are used for the treatment of asthma symptoms providing rapid relief. SABAs do not address the underlying inflammation, which can lead to SABA overuse and poor clinical outcomes, including a correlation with increased mortality. This evidence has led the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to stop recommending the use of SABA alone for patients with asthma. Instead, combining SABA with Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) is safer and more effective, addressing both immediate symptoms and long-term inflammation, leading to improved asthma management, including a significant reduction in the risk of severe exacerbations (asthma attacks).  Teva’s albuterol/fluticasone combination (TEV-‘248) is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials to demonstrate a reduction in severe exacerbations compared to reliever treatment with SABA alone (Study FpA-AS-30094) and the airway relaxation effect of albuterol in the combination product (Study FpA-AS-30093).

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) is a global pharmaceutical leader with a category-defying portfolio, harnessing our generics expertise and stepping up innovation to continue the momentum behind the discovery, delivery, and expanded development of modern medicine. For over 120 years, Teva’s commitment to bettering health has never wavered. Today, the company’s global network of capabilities enables its 37,000 employees across 58 markets to push the boundaries of scientific innovation and deliver quality medicines to help improve health outcomes of millions of patients every day. To learn more about how Teva is all in for better health, visit www.tevapharm.com.

Abingworth is a leading transatlantic life sciences investment firm. Abingworth helps transform cutting-edge science into novel medicines by providing capital and expertise to top caliber management teams building world-class companies. Since 1973, Abingworth has invested in 185 life science companies, leading to 50+ M&A transactions and more than 75 IPOs. Our therapeutic focused investments fall into three categories: seed and early-stage, development stage, and clinical co-development. Abingworth supports its portfolio companies with a team of experienced professionals at offices in London, Menlo Park (California), and Boston.

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across its business and conducts its operations through three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Global Investment Solutions. With $426 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2023, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,200 people in 28 offices across four continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. For more, follow Carlyle on LinkedIn and X.

Launch Therapeutics is a clinical development company with a mission to disrupt the late-stage development paradigm, accelerate timelines to regulatory success, and bring new medicines to patients faster. Launch Therapeutics offers pharmaceutical and biotech companies a variety of innovative models that combine access to capital with deep drug development, medical, clinical operations, regulatory, and commercialization expertise. Founded in 2022, Launch Therapeutics is backed by leading investors, Carlyle and its life sciences franchise, Abingworth, and is led by a committed, experienced team with an enthusiastic passion to fulfil its mission.