Abzena
Written by
Abzena |
New ThioBridge licence agreement |
Licence agreement |
Healthcare services |
20 January 2017 |
Share price performance
Business description
Analyst
Abzena is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
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Abzena has achieved a significant licensing deal for its proprietary site-specific ThioBridge antibody drug conjugate (ADC) linker technology with a San Diego-based biopharmaceutical company. The agreement covers the use of ThioBridge in up to 10 ADCs across a wide range of indications. The agreement also includes a master services agreement, which enables access to Abzena’s chemistry services. This provides important validation of both its proprietary ADC technology and its hybrid business model. Our valuation is under review, but we expect upside on the basis of this positive newsflow.
Year |
Revenue (£m) |
PBT* |
EPS* |
DPS |
P/E |
Yield |
03/15 |
5.7 |
(4.7) |
(5.89) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
03/16 |
9.9 |
(7.5) |
(6.00) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
03/17e |
19.1 |
(8.2) |
(5.20) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
03/18e |
25.0 |
(5.7) |
(3.57) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
Note: *PBT and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.
Abzena has signed a significant licensing deal with a San Diego-based biopharmaceutical company for its novel site-specific ThioBridge technology, which links antibodies/proteins to cytotoxic agents, and a master services agreement to use its chemistry services. The licensing deal includes the use of ThioBridge in up to 10 ADCs across a wide range of indications. According to the company, the value of the agreement has the potential to reach more than $300m in development/ commercial milestones if the partner successfully develops the ADC products. Alongside this, Abzena would also receive royalties on sales of any approved products that incorporate the ThioBridge technology. Abzena’s licensed portfolio of antibodies developed using its Composite Human Antibodies technology offers the prospect of small royalties (~1%) on sales. We expect Abzena to gain greater deal economics from its ADC products due to the greater technological and IP input resulting from ThioBridge.
This deal continues to demonstrate the potential in Abzena’s hybrid business model and the potential value from its proprietary ADC technology. We do not expect a change to our current financial forecasts but note that our valuation is under review.
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Disclaimer
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Disclaimer
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Research: Healthcare
AFT Pharma recently made announcements affecting several of its marketed products. Importantly, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has made an interim decision that all products containing codeine (a key competitor to AFT’s Maxigesic) are to be rescheduled to prescription-only as of 1 February 2018. Also, AFT has licensed its cold/flu product Maxiclear to Angelini in 16 European countries. Additionally, due to continued Metoprolol shortages, the New Zealand government pharmaceutical buying agency, PHARMAC, has requested proposals from alternative providers, potentially affecting AFT’s sales of the product.