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CURRENT REPORT
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Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
On August 20, 2020, AnaptysBio, Inc. (“AnaptysBio”) sent a notice of breach to GlaxoSmithKline and TESARO, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of GSK (collectively, “GSK”), stating that GSK is in breach of its obligations under the Collaboration and Exclusive License Agreement by and between TESARO, Inc. and AnaptysBio (the “GSK Agreement”), and notifying GSK that the GSK Agreement will terminate with regard to PD-1 antagonists, including dostarlimab, which will thereby revoke any licenses and rights granted pertaining to the program, if such breach is not cured within the 60-day time period required by the GSK Agreement.
Pursuant to the GSK Agreement, GSK has a license to certain antibodies originally developed by AnaptysBio, including dostarlimab, a PD-1 antibody product candidate in the late-stages of clinical development, with FDA approval of an accepted biological license application (BLA) for a first indication anticipated during 2020 and regulatory submission for a second indication anticipated in the first half of 2021, according to GSK.
Under the terms of the GSK Agreement, GSK agreed that it would not conduct or participate in research, development, manufacturing or commercialization of any PD-1 antagonist other than those licensed by AnaptysBio to GSK. The GSK Agreement also provides that GSK will “use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to . . . (e) commercialize Products and attempt to obtain the optimum commercial return for each Product in all major markets throughout the world.” In contravention of the exclusivity and diligence provisions of the GSK Agreement, GSK recently announced plans to begin a Phase 3 clinical trial involving a third-party anti-PD-1 antibody, Merck’s Keytruda®, and GSK’s drug, Zejula® in non-small cell lung cancer. The aforementioned Phase 3 trial is being initiated subsequent to previous proposals from Tesaro to waive PD-1 antagonist exclusivity terms under the GSK Agreement, which AnaptysBio has explicitly declined.
While we hope to resolve this matter amicably, we have also, as of August 20, 2020, filed a Verified Complaint (the “Complaint”) in Delaware Chancery Court, requesting a preliminary injunction to enjoin GSK’s current planned clinical trial using GSK’s Zejula® in combination with Keytruda®, without the consent of AnaptysBio and in breach of the GSK Agreement. In addition to enjoining this planned clinical trial, AnaptysBio is seeking specific performance of return of all PD-1 antagonist related rights under the GSK agreement, including the dostarlimab program, across all clinical indications, to AnaptysBio, pursuant to the termination provision of the GSK Agreement. In addition to the Complaint, AnaptysBio also filed a Motion to Expedite Proceedings, requesting a court schedule to expedite trial to occur as soon as possible but no later than March 2021. Milestone and royalty payment obligations due to AnaptysBio pursuant to the GSK Agreement will continue during the proceedings.
Forward-Looking Statements
This filing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, the potential termination of the GSK Agreement, the timing or outcome of any regulatory submission or approval of dostarlimab, the timing and potential outcome of proceedings in Delaware Chancery Court, the return of the dostarlimab program to the company, and the nature of the remedies we may obtain in such proceedings. Statements including words such as “plan,” “seek,” “will,” “expect,” or “ongoing” and statements in the future tense are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, which, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause the company’s actual activities or results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, including risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in documents the company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| ANAPTYSBIO, INC. | ||||||
| Date: August 20, 2020 | By: | /s/ Eric Loumeau | ||||
| Name: Eric Loumeau | ||||||
| Title: Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel | ||||||