Telix to Acquire Next-Generation Therapeutic Assets and Innovative Biologics Technology Platform

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MELBOURNE, Australia and INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Nasdaq: TLX, Telix, the Company) today announces it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with antibody engineering company ImaginAb, Inc. (ImaginAb) to acquire a pipeline of next-generation therapeutic candidates, proprietary novel biologics technology platform, and a protein engineering and discovery research facility to enhance existing innovation capabilities.

This transaction adds a pipeline of early-stage drug candidates against high-value targets including DLL3^[1] and integrin αvβ6^[2], as well as several other novel targets in discovery stage. These next generation drug candidates fit synergistically with Telix's therapeutics pipeline, enabling expansion to future therapy areas with unmet clinical need. The acquired intellectual property utilizes small engineered antibody formats that enable highly specific cancer targeting, combined with 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 transaction also includes a state-of-the-art research facility in California, staffed by a talented team of discovery, protein engineering and radiopharmaceutical development experts. Together, these assets will provide Telix with further in-house capabilities in antibody engineering and preclinical development, as well as a novel biologics platform to create the next generation of Telix precision medicine and therapeutic products, beyond the current clinical-stage pipeline. 

Richard Valeix, Chief Executive Officer, Therapeutics, Telix, said, "The combination of a proprietary drug discovery platform, pipeline of promising theranostic assets and a talented team of subject matter experts will enhance Telix's research and innovation capability now and into the future. This acquisition will enable Telix to explore new disease areas with state-of-the-art radiotherapeutic technology."

Dr. Anna M. Wu, Co-Founder and Board Member, ImaginAb, added, "As the radiopharmaceutical sector gains momentum there is a significant need for targeting agents to be more selective, deliver less off-target radiation, and better match the pharmacology and radiobiology of a given radionuclide. The team's deep expertise in antibody engineering and the resulting development of a valuable, proprietary platform technology has led to clinical proof-of-concept. Telix is the right partner to unlock the future therapeutic potential of this platform."

Transaction details

Telix will acquire these assets through an asset purchase agreement with a concurrent technology license agreement to be signed at closing. The purchase price for the transaction is US$45 million (AU$73 million)^[3], comprised of US$10 million in cash and US$31 million in equity at closing, and a deferred payment of up to US$4 million in equity at the conclusion of a 15-month indemnity period.

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^[4]. 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. 

Telix will issue ordinary shares to ImaginAb within its Listing Rule 7.1 placement capacity as consideration for the acquisition. Upfront equity consideration will be subject to voluntary escrow (lock-up/leak-out) restrictions with equal tranches being released from escrow 60, 90 and 120 days after closing. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals and other third-party consents. Telix cannot guarantee this transaction will close in any specific timeframe or on the terms summarized here, if at all.

Refer to Telix disclosures and Appendix 3B lodged with the ASX today for further information.

About ImaginAb, Inc.

ImaginAb is a clinical stage, revenue-generating global biotechnology company developing the next generation of radiopharmaceutical and imaging agent products. These patented products contain engineered antibodies that maintain the specificity of full-length antibodies while remaining biologically inert in the body. Used with widely available positron emission tomography (PET) and optical imaging technology, these novel targeting agents are able to bind specifically to cell surface targets.

Following closing of its transaction with Telix Pharmaceuticals, ImaginAb, Inc. will be focused on developing its lead imaging candidate, CD8 ImmunoPET, which is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials and has been licensed by numerous pharmaceutical and biotech companies for use in imaging within immunotherapy clinical trials, primarily in oncology.

Jefferies LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated served as financial advisors to ImaginAb on the transaction.

Disclosures

Telix Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Christian Behrenbruch, is a non-affiliated shareholder of ImaginAb, holding less than 1% of its capital stock as his only interest in the company. Dr. Behrenbruch abstained from the transaction process and the Telix Board's approval of the arm's length acquisition. Dr. Behrenbruch has voluntarily elected, via a binding undertaking, to donate any enrichment from the transaction as the result of his shareholding to charity.

About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutic and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals and associated medical technologies. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, with international operations in the United States, Canada, Europe (Belgium and Switzerland), and Japan. Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical and commercial stage products that aims to address significant unmet medical needs in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX) and the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: TLX).

Telix's lead imaging product, gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga) gozetotide injection (also known as ⁶⁸Ga PSMA-11 and marketed under the brand name Illuccix®), has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)^[5], by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) ^[6], and by Health Canada^[7]. No other Telix product has received a marketing authorization in any jurisdiction.

Visit www.telixpharma.com for further information about Telix, including details of the latest share price, announcements made to the ASX, investor and analyst presentations, news releases, event details and other publications that may be of interest. You can also follow Telix on X and LinkedIn.

Telix Investor Relations
Ms. Kyahn Williamson
Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited
SVP Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Email: [email protected]

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited Disclosure Committee on behalf of the Board.

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You should read this announcement together with our risk factors, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our registration statement on Form 20-F filed with the SEC, or on our website.

The information contained in this announcement is not intended to be an offer for subscription, invitation or recommendation with respect to securities of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) in any jurisdiction, including the United States. The information and opinions contained in this announcement are subject to change without notification.  To the maximum extent permitted by law, Telix disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any information or opinions contained in this announcement, including any forward-looking statements (as referred to below), whether as a result of new information, future developments, a change in expectations or assumptions, or otherwise. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained or opinions expressed in the course of this announcement.

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