Ipsen and Foreseen Biotech announce global licensing deal for first-in-class ADC

Ipsen and Foreseen Biotechnology have entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement for the development, manufacture, and commercialization of FS001, a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). FS001 is designed to target a novel tumor-associated antigen that is overexpressed in numerous solid tumors, playing a crucial role in their growth and spread. This innovative target was identified through Foreseen's high-throughput translational proteomics and AI-powered screening platforms, which analyzed a large collection of clinically characterized tumor samples.

FS001 is constructed using a stable and cleavable linker connected to a potent topoisomerase I inhibitor. It has shown significant preclinical efficacy in multi-drug resistant cancer models. Under the new agreement, Ipsen will have exclusive worldwide rights to further develop, manufacture, and commercialize FS001.

Mary Jane Hinrichs, Senior Vice President and Head of Early Development at Ipsen, expressed excitement about adding FS001 to Ipsen’s growing pipeline. She highlighted the use of cutting-edge proteomics technology and AI-powered platforms by Foreseen, which uncovered a novel and clinically significant target. Ipsen aims to initiate Phase I clinical trials to evaluate FS001 in selected solid tumor types, hoping to provide new treatments for cancer patients worldwide.

Foreseen's Founder and Chairman, Catherine Wong, affirmed that the partnership with Ipsen validates their high-throughput integrated translational proteomics platform's capability to discover and develop innovative therapeutic products. She expressed confidence in Ipsen's track record of accelerating the clinical development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. Wong believes that FS001 has the potential to treat multiple cancers, either as a single agent or in combination with standard care therapies.

Financially, Foreseen Biotechnology stands to receive up to $1.03 billion through a combination of upfront payments, development milestones, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, and tiered royalties on global sales, contingent on successful development and regulatory approvals. Ipsen will take responsibility for Phase I preparation activities, including the submission of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application, as well as all subsequent clinical development, manufacturing, and global commercialization efforts.

Ipsen is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing transformative medicines to patients in three therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Disease, and Neuroscience. With nearly a century of development experience and global hubs in the U.S., France, and the U.K., Ipsen is committed to delivering medicines to patients in over 80 countries.

Foreseen Biotechnology, an emerging company, has pioneered a high-throughput, integrated translational proteomics platform powered by AI-based data analytics. This platform accelerates the discovery of novel targets for therapeutics and diagnostics that are clinically relevant. The company is focused on building a pipeline of innovative product candidates for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, inflammatory/autoimmune diseases, and neurological disorders.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) like FS001 consist of three main components: an antibody that selectively targets a tumor antigen, a pharmaceutically active payload to treat the cancer, and a linker that attaches the payload to the antibody while minimizing its impact on non-tumor tissues. FS001's innovative design and demonstrated preclinical efficacy position it as a promising therapeutic candidate in the fight against solid tumors.