UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): September 30, 2016
INSMED INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Virginia |
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0-30739 |
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54-1972729 |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
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(Commission File Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification |
10 Finderne Avenue, Building 10 |
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08807 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (908) 977-9900
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
License Agreement
On October 4, 2016, Insmed Incorporated (the Company) entered into a license agreement (the License Agreement) with AstraZeneca AB, a Swedish corporation (AstraZeneca). Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, AstraZeneca has granted the Company global exclusive rights for the purpose of developing and commercializing AZD7986 (the Compound). The Compound is a novel oral inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPP1). DPP1 is an enzyme that catalyzes the activation of neutrophil serine proteases, which play a key role in pulmonary diseases such as non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. The License Agreement also provides the Company with the right to grant sublicenses, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.
In consideration of the licenses and other rights granted by AstraZeneca, the Company will pay an upfront payment of $30 million within 30 days of signing the License Agreement, and will make a series of contingent milestone payments totaling up to an additional $85 million upon the achievement of clinical development and regulatory filing milestones. If the Company elects to develop the Compound for a second indication, the Company will make an additional series of contingent milestone payments equal to half of the contingent milestone payments in the preceding sentence. No additional milestone payments are due for any indications beyond the first and second indications. In addition, the Company will pay AstraZeneca tiered royalties ranging from a high single-digit to mid-teen on net sales of any approved product based on the Compound and one additional payment of $35 million upon the first achievement of $1 billion in annual net sales. The License Agreement provides AstraZeneca with the option to negotiate a future agreement with the Company for commercialization of the Compound in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma.
The License Agreement is effective as of October 4, 2016 and will continue in effect until such time as the Company no longer owes any royalty payments to AstraZeneca, unless earlier terminated by either party pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement.
Either party may terminate the Agreement upon the occurrence of certain events, including, (i) insolvency or bankruptcy of the other party, or (ii) material breach of the Agreement by either party by providing six (6) months (the Notice Period) prior written notice, provided that the termination will not become effective if (a) such breach is cured within the Notice Period, or, (b) if such breach cannot be cured during the Notice Period, if the breaching party commences actions to cure such breach during the Notice Period and diligently continues such actions. In addition, the Company may terminate the Agreement (i) in its entirety immediately upon written notice to AstraZeneca if the Company in good faith determines not to develop or commercialize the Licensed Products (as defined in the License Agreement) due to safety or efficacy concerns, or (ii) in its entirety, on a Licensed Product-by-Licensed Product basis or on a country-by-country basis, for any reason, upon sixty (60) days notice to AstraZeneca.
Following termination of the License Agreement in its entirety (i) by AstraZeneca for Insmeds breach or insolvency, or (ii) by Insmed for convenience, all rights and licenses granted by AstraZeneca under the License Agreement will terminate immediately.
Following termination in a Terminated Territory (as defined in the License Agreement) by AstraZeneca for Insmeds breach or by Insmed for Insmeds convenience, all rights and licenses granted by AstraZeneca under the License Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Terminated Territory except as necessary for purposes of furthering commercialization of the Licensed Products in the remaining territory, or any development or manufacturing in support of such commercialization.
The Agreement also contains customary representations, warranties and covenants from the Company and AstraZeneca, as well as customary provisions relating to indemnity, confidentiality and other matters.
Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement
On September 30, 2016, the Company and its domestic subsidiaries, as co-borrowers, entered into an Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the A&R Loan Agreement) with Hercules Capital, Inc., a Maryland corporation (Hercules). The A&R Loan Agreement includes a total commitment from Hercules of up to $55 million, of which $25 million was previously outstanding. The amount of borrowings was increased by $10 million to an aggregate total of $35 million on September 30, 2016. An additional $20 million is available at the Companys option through June 30, 2017 subject to certain conditions, including the payment of a facility fee of 0.375%. The Company intends to exercise this option in connection with its upfront payment obligation under the License Agreement. The interest rate for the term is floating and is defined as the greater of (i) 9.25% or (ii) 9.25% plus the sum of the US prime rate minus 4.50%, along with a backend fee of 4.15% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding and an aggregate facility fee of $337,500. The interest-only period was extended through May 1, 2018, but can be extended up to 12 months under certain conditions. The maturity date of the loan facility was also extended to October 1, 2020.
The A&R Loan Agreement also contains representations and warranties by the Company and Hercules and indemnification provisions in favor of Hercules and customary covenants (including limitations on other indebtedness, liens, acquisitions, investments and dividend), and events of default (including payment defaults, breaches of covenants following any applicable cure period, a material impairment in the perfection or priority of Hercules security interest or in the collateral, and events relating to bankruptcy or insolvency). Upon the occurrence of an event of default, a default interest rate of an additional 5% may be applied to the outstanding loan balances, and Hercules may terminate its lending commitment, declare all outstanding obligations immediately due and payable, and take such other actions as set forth in the A&R Loan Agreement. Pursuant to the A&R Loan Agreement, upon the Companys exercise of its option to increase its borrowings by $20 million, the Company is required to have a consolidated minimum cash liquidity in an amount no less than $25 million. Such requirement terminates upon the earlier of the date by which the Company completes an equity financing with at least $75 million in proceeds or the date the Company generates and announces data from the CONVERT Phase III study in a manner that could support an NDA filing. In addition, pursuant to the A&R Loan Agreement, Hercules has the right to participate, in an aggregate amount of up to $2 million, in a subsequent private financing of equity securities.
The foregoing descriptions of the terms of the License Agreement and A&R Loan Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of each of the License Agreement and the A&R Loan Agreement. The Company expects to file the A&R Loan Agreement as an exhibit to its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2016. The Company expects to file the License Agreement as an exhibit to its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, with portions of the License Agreement omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. A copy of the press release issued by the Company relating to the License Agreement is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.
ITEM 9.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit |
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Description |
99.1 |
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Press Release issued by Insmed Incorporated on October 5, 2016. |
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 hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: October 5, 2016 |
INSMED INCORPORATED | |
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By: |
/s/ Christine Pellizzari |
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Name: |
Christine Pellizzari |
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Title: |
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
Exhibit 99.1
Insmed Announces Worldwide License Agreement with AstraZeneca for Oral DPP1 Inhibitor
Insmed expects to advance compound into a phase 2 dose-ranging study in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in 2017
BRIDGEWATER, N.J., October 5, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Insmed Incorporated (Nasdaq: INSM), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the unmet needs of patients with rare diseases, today announced a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) for global exclusive rights to AZD7986, a novel oral inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPP1, also known as cathepsin C). DPP1 is an enzyme that catalyzes the activation of neutrophil serine proteases (NSPs), which play a key role in pulmonary diseases such as non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (non-CF bronchiectasis).
Insmed has renamed the compound INS1007 and will pursue an initial indication of non-CF bronchiectasis, a rare, progressive, neutrophil-driven pulmonary disorder in which the bronchi become permanently dilated due to chronic inflammation and infection. Symptoms include chronic cough, excessive sputum production, shortness of breath, and repeated respiratory infections, which can worsen the underlying condition. The estimated global prevalence of non-CF bronchiectasis exceeds 2 million, of which at least 110,000 cases are in the United States. There is currently no cure for non-CF bronchiectasis.
Bronchiectasis increases susceptibility to nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease, and up to 50 percent of patients with bronchiectasis may also have an active NTM infection. NTM lung disease is a rare and often chronic infection that is capable of causing irreversible lung damage and can be fatal. Insmed is currently advancing a global phase 3 clinical study of ARIKAYCE (liposomal amikacin for inhalation) in NTM lung disease. Insmed has also completed a phase 2 study of ARIKAYCE for the treatment of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in non-CF bronchiectasis.
With this transaction we have added a highly complementary therapy that aligns perfectly with our established expertise in rare pulmonary diseases, said Will Lewis, president and chief executive officer of Insmed. Because NTM lung disease and bronchiectasis often co-exist, we can readily leverage our existing relationships with physician experts around the world who are eagerly awaiting new treatment options. We continue to expect patient enrollment in our phase 3 study of ARIKAYCE to conclude later this year and to report top line data in 2017. We expect that when approved, ARIKAYCE and INS1007 will allow us to provide great value to the patients who are living with NTM lung disease and bronchiectasis, as well as the physicians who treat them.
We are pleased to be working with Insmed on this program from our early stage respiratory portfolio, which represents a novel approach to treating bronchiectasis, said Maarten Kraan, head of the Respiratory and Inflammation Innovative Medicines Unit at AstraZeneca. Insmed has the expertise and experience required to take AZD7986 forward in this important indication and bring about results that we hope will benefit patients in the future.
In a phase 1 study of healthy volunteers AZD7986 was well tolerated and demonstrated inhibition of the activity of the NSP neutrophil elastase in a dose and concentration dependent manner. In preclinical studies, AZD7986 was shown to effectively and reversibly inhibit DPP1 and the activation of NSPs within maturing neutrophils. Insmed is completing its plans for a phase 2 study in non-CF bronchiectasis. The study is expected to begin in 2017.
Under the terms of the agreement, Insmed will pay AstraZeneca an upfront payment of $30 million. AstraZeneca will be eligible to receive future payments totaling $120 million in future clinical, regulatory, and sales-related milestones. AstraZeneca would also be entitled to receive tiered royalties ranging from a high single-digit to mid-teen. In addition, the agreement provides AstraZeneca with the option to negotiate a future agreement with Insmed for commercialization of AZD7986/INS1007 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma.
Insmed recently closed a $55 million debt agreement with Hercules Capital, Inc., which refinanced the companys existing debt and will add $30 million of new debt to fund the upfront payment. The company confirms its cash operating expense guidance for the second half of 2016 of $62 to $72 million. Going forward the company remains committed to maintaining a disciplined use of capital that ensures key corporate activities pertaining to its priority ARIKAYCE and INS1007 programs are fully resourced.
About INS1007
INS1007 is a small molecule, reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPP1), an enzyme responsible for activating neutrophil serine proteases (NSPs) in neutrophils when they are formed in the bone marrow. Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell and play an essential role in pathogen destruction and inflammatory mediation. Neutrophils contain three NSPs (neutrophil elastase, proteinase 3, and cathepsin G) that have been implicated in a variety of inflammatory diseases. In chronic inflammatory lung diseases, neutrophils accumulate in the airways and result in excessive active NSPs that cause lung destruction and inflammation. INS1007 may decrease the damaging effects of inflammatory diseases, such as non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, by inhibiting DPP1 and its activation of NSPs.
About Insmed
Insmed Incorporated is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the unmet needs of patients with rare diseases. The company is advancing a global phase 3 clinical study of ARIKAYCE (liposomal amikacin for inhalation) in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease, a rare and often chronic infection that is capable of causing irreversible lung damage and can be fatal. There are currently no products indicated for the treatment of NTM lung disease in the United States or European Union. The companys earlier-stage clinical pipeline includes INS1009, a nebulized prodrug formulation of treprostinil that the company believes may offer a differentiated product profile with therapeutic potential in rare pulmonary disorders such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), sarcoidosis, and severe refractory asthma. To complement its internal research, Insmed actively seeks in-licensing opportunities for a broad range of rare diseases. For more information, visit www.insmed.com.
Insmed and ARIKAYCE are the companys trademarks. All other trademarks, trade names or service marks appearing in this press release are the property of their respective owners.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas Respiratory and Autoimmunity, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, and Oncology. The company is also active in inflammation, infection and neuroscience through numerous collaborations. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information please visit: www.astrazeneca.com
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, are statements that are not historical facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words herein such as may, will, should, could, would, expects, plans, anticipates, believes, estimates, projects, predicts, intends, potential, continues, and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based upon the companys current expectations and beliefs, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance and achievements and the timing of certain events to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or timing discussed, projected, anticipated or indicated in any forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the factors discussed in Item 1A Risk Factors in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and the following: the ability to successfully develop INS1007 (formerly known as AZD7986) for the treatment of non-CF bronchiectasis; the ability to complete development of, receive, and maintain regulatory approval for, and successfully commercialize ARIKAYCE, INS1007 (formerly known as AZD7986), and INS1009; the number of patients enrolled and the timing of patient enrollment in the companys global phase 3 clinical study of ARIKAYCE; estimates of expenses and future revenues and profitability; status, timing, and the results of preclinical studies and clinical trials and preclinical and clinical data described herein; the sufficiency of preclinical and clinical data in obtaining regulatory approval for the companys product candidates; the timing of responses to information and data requests from the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, and other regulatory authorities; expectation as to the timing of regulatory review and approval; estimates regarding capital requirements and the needs for additional financing, including for payment milestones and royalty obligations under the license agreement; estimates of the size of the potential markets for product candidates; selection and licensing of product candidates; ability to attract third parties with acceptable development, regulatory and commercialization expertise; the benefits to be derived from corporate license agreements and other third party efforts, including those relating to the development and commercialization of product candidates; the degree of protection afforded to the company by its intellectual property portfolio; the safety and efficacy of product candidates; sources of revenues and anticipated revenues, including contributions from license agreements and other third party efforts for the development and commercialization of products; ability to create an effective direct sales and marketing infrastructure for products the company elects to market and sell directly; the rate and degree of market acceptance of product candidates; the impact of any litigation the company is a party to, including, without limitation, the class action lawsuit recently filed against the company; the timing, scope and rate of reimbursement for product
candidates; the success of other competing therapies that may become available; and the availability of adequate supply and manufacturing capacity and quality for product candidates.
The company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Insmed disclaims any obligation, except as specifically required by law and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Insmed Incorporated:
Susan Mesco
Head of Investor Relations
908-947-4326
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