Cambridge, UK based technology brokerage Link China Pharma Solutions has negotiated a co-development partnership deal between Sareum Holdings plc (AIM: SAR), the specialist cancer drug discovery and development business, and Hebei Medical University Biomedical Engineering Center (HMUBEC) to advance its Aurora+FLT3 cancer programme.
Sareum Holdings plc (AIM: SAR), the specialist cancer drug discovery and development business, is pleased to announce that it has signed a co-development agreement with Hebei Medical University Biomedical Engineering Center (“HMUBEC”) to advance its Aurora+FLT3 cancer programme.

Sareum was advised and assisted on this agreement byCambridge, UK based technology brokerage Link China Pharma Solutions. Directors of Sareum and Link China Pharma Solutions have worked very hard in the past to evaluate different options for China co-development partnership, we are delighted to choose HMUBEC as an ideal partner for its technical capabilities, Medical University associated GLP Lab and teaching hospitals, its own purpose built GMP compliant manufacturing facilities and well established distribution channels. Link China Pharma Solutions are currently advising Europe based biotech companies in UK, Finland, Holland etc. for strategic partnership deals with China based biopharmaceutical companies, and last year Link China Pharma Solutions negotiated licensed co-development agreement between Cambridge-based vaccine company ImmunoBiology Ltd (ImmBio) and Sinopharm Vaccine Institute (LIBP) to co-develop ImmBio’s T-BioVax Vaccine against TB infection.

Under the terms of the agreement HMUBEC has been granted exclusive rights to carry out pre-clinical and clinical studies within Greater China* to obtain approval for sales in that territory. Sareum will receive a significant milestone payment once a product receives authorisation for marketing, and up to 15% of operating profit from sales generated in Greater China.

HMUBEC will be required to disclose and exclusively licence to Sareum all pre-clinical and clinical data it generates in the course of the development collaboration in order to facilitate Sareum's own development and commercialisation activities. This would include conducting any further studies required for authorisation for clinical trials in the rest of the world as well as out-licensing and supporting applications for marketing authorisations outside Greater China. HMUBEC will be entitled to receive up to 10% of operating profit Sareum receives from any licence agreement or sales made outside Greater China, dependent on the stage at which Sareum out-licences data generated by HMUBEC to a third party.

HMUBEC is an independent research centre operating within Hebei Medical University Science & Technology General Company (HMUSTGC). Its capabilities include GLP† compliant laboratories, CGMP†† compliant manufacturing capabilities and well-established sales distribution channels in Greater China. HMUSTGC has successfully developed more than 85 therapeutic products and medical devices for the Chinese market since its formation in 1992.

Aurora+FLT3 kinase inhibitors have the potential to treat acute myeloid leukaemia (AML, the most common form of adult leukaemia) and various other forms of cancer. Aurora kinase is involved in the control of mitosis (cell division), and FLT3 kinase over-activation is the most common mutation in AML. The pre-clinical development candidate that has been licenced by Sareum to HMUBEC has showed particular promise against a range of haematological cancer models including AML and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) with an encouraging early safety profile and positive ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) properties.

Dr. Tim Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer of Sareum Holdings plc, said: “This agreement provides us with significant additional resource, exposure to a major market and the flexibility to undertake our own independent research utilising HMUBEC’s findings at any point in the development programme. HMUBEC also has the capability and resources to advance the Aurora+FLT3 programme from pre-clinical all the way through clinical trials and onto the Chinese market. We believe all this provides a good balance of risk and reward for our shareholders and we look forward to working closely with HMUBEC.”

Professor Donggang Liu, Deputy General Manager of the Hebei Medical University Science & Technology General Company, said: “We have been very impressed with the results of the studies undertaken on Sareum’s Aurora+FLT3 programme so far and we have real confidence in the programme’s potential to develop a world class drug to treat several forms of blood cancer. HMUBEC has significant resources and expertise to expedite this research programme, and we look forward to commencing work on this very exciting compound.”

Marshall Ma, MD of Link China Pharma Solutions, said: “China’s healthcare spending is projected to grow from $357 billion in 2011 to $1 trillion in 2020, China will be the 2nd largest pharmaceutical market by 2020. Since 2006, 13 out of 20 top pharmaceutical multi-national companies have invested heavily and established R&D centres in China. It will be a great opportunity for both Sareum and HMUBEC to enter into this win-win deal arrangement to efficiently advance Sareum’s leading oncology programme into clinical trials and onward for possible marketing approval.”

*Greater China includes the People’s Republic of China, and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, and Taiwan region.

†GLP: Good Laboratory Practise

††CGMP: Chinese Good Manufacturing Practise