Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited announces it has completed the acquisition from antibody engineering company ImaginAb, Inc. (ImaginAb). The acquisition includes a pipeline of next-generation therapeutic candidates, a proprietary novel biologics technology platform, and a protein engineering and discovery research facility to enhance existing innovation capabilities.

This transaction delivers a pipeline of drug candidates against validated cancer targets including DLL3 and integrin αvβ6, as well as a panel of other agents against novel targets in early discovery stage. The Company believes that these next generation drug candidates fit synergistically with Telix's therapeutics pipeline, enabling expansion to future therapy areas with unmet clinical need.

The technology platform and intellectual property utilizes small, engineered antibody formats that enable highly specific targeting of cancer with radiation, that exhibit fast tumor uptake and blood clearance. This technology has the potential to be highly effective for imaging and treating tumors with a broad range of radioisotopes, with alpha emitters of particular interest. The ImaginAb capabilities combined with Telix's existing investments in new target development, conjugation and isotope processing has resulted in a platform that has the potential to rapidly create a new portfolio of "next generation" theranostic radiopharmaceuticals.

The transaction adds a state-of-the-art research facility in Los Angeles to Telix's U.S. operations, complementing the Company's existing radiochemistry platform at Optimal Tracers (Sacramento, CA), isotope production at ARTMS (Vancouver, Canada) and bioconjugation chemistry at IsoTherapeutics (Angleton, TX). ImaginAb's team of discovery, protein engineering and radiopharmaceutical development experts will also join the Telix early development team, further enhancing in-house capabilities in antibody engineering, protein characterization and preclinical development.   

Dr. Michael Wheatcroft, Chief Scientist, Telix, said, "The addition of an early-stage pipeline of promising theranostic assets and a novel biologics platform adds new optionality for Telix to create the next generation of precision medicine and therapeutic products, beyond the current clinical-stage pipeline. We are particularly delighted to welcome a talented team of experts, further enhancing Telix's R&D capabilities."

Dr. Anna M. Wu, Co-Founder and Board Member, ImaginAb, added, "The innovative radiotherapeutic technology platform is designed to optimize radiopharmaceutical therapies with targeting agents that are more selective and better match the pharmacology and radiobiology of a given radionuclide. The protein engineering and discovery team is excited to join Telix and further unlock the future potential of this platform and theranostic candidates."

Transaction details

The upfront consideration value was US$45 million (AU$73 million)^[4] of which US$10 million (AU$16 million) has been paid to ImaginAb in cash, with US$31 million (AU$50 million) paid in equity through the issue of 2,053,311 fully paid ordinary Telix shares at AU$24.3745 per share. A deferred payment of up to US$4 million will be paid to ImaginAb in equity at the conclusion of a 15-month indemnity period, subject to set-off of any substantiated claims by Telix above a threshold amount. Upfront equity consideration is subject to voluntary escrow (lock-up/leak-out) restrictions.

Upon achievement of specific key development and commercial milestones, Telix will pay up to a total of US$185 million (AU$299 million), a portion of which may be paid in cash or equity at Telix's election. Royalties are also payable on net sales in the low single digits on a limited number of platform and early-stage products after the first four products have been developed, as well as single-digit sublicense fees, as applicable.