TxCell and Trizell amend agreement to accelerate Ovasave development

TxCell has announced an amendment to the Ovasave® collaboration option, development and license agreement (Ovasave Agreement) with Trizell.

In the agreement, TxCell will undertake a programme to bring forward the preparation of Ovasave for Phase III development and commercialisation, notably in the areas of process and manufacturing development.

Ovasave currently in a Phase IIb clinical trial for refractory Crohn’s disease

To finance this programme, Trizell will advance up to EUR 1.1 million in funding that was initially due after the future exercise of Trizell’s option to Ovasave. In Trizell’s sole discretion it may finance a further EUR 4.3 million. TxCell has appointed the Cell Therapy Catapult to undertake the process and manufacturing development of TxCell’s ASTrIA product platform under TxCell’s leadership. Ovasave, TxCell’s lead product, is currently in a Phase IIb clinical trial for refractory Crohn’s disease. Top line results of this study are expected at the end of 2016 / early 2017.

Initiating the programme detailed in the latest amendment to the agreement is intended to enable Ovasave to be moved seamlessly into Phase III development following the ongoing Phase IIb study. It also aims to ensure that the Phase III programme is performed with the same cost-effective manufacturing processes that will be used for future commercial products. In addition, the process will be designed and automated to allow it to be easily and economically upscaled in line with future demand. The programme allows other activities to be performed including formulation selection and any necessary pre-clinical studies. 

Amended agreement will enable Ovasave to move seamlessly into Phase III development

TxCell will own all results and intellectual property generated, which can be used across TxCell’s ASTrIA product platform. TxCell will grant Trizell an exclusive license to use the results and IP specifically for Ovasave in IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases) in line with the Ovasave Agreement.

“This additional amendment to our agreement including the significant investments advanced by Trizell, is the latest important development for the Ovasave programme and for TxCell’s ASTrIA product platform. It provides further support for Ovasave to progress smoothly and rapidly to Phase III and commercialisation,” said Miguel Forte, SVP Clinical and Regulatory, TxCell. “Ovasave, TxCell’s lead personalised T-cell immunotherapy, offers the chance of a new therapeutic innovation for refractory Crohn’s disease patients who have no alternative treatment options. In addition to this, TxCell has a portfolio of further personalised T-cell immunotherapies from the ASTrIA product platform. This includes TxCell’s second product Col-Treg for refractory non-infectious uveitis, which is planned to start a placebo-controlled, dose-ranging clinical study mid-2015.”

Keith Thompson, CEO of the Cell Therapy Catapult, said: “The Cell Therapy Catapult is delighted to work with TxCell to undertake the process and manufacturing development of TxCell’s ASTrIA product platform and lead product Ovasave, an important potential treatment for refractory Crohn’s disease. Through the value of our offering as an international partner we will be able to add considerable cell therapy industry expertise to help TxCell develop cost-effective and scalable manufacturing processes that will be flexible for TxCell’s future requirements.”