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8-K - FORM 8-K - SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. | b88321e8vk.htm |
EX-4.1 - EX-4.1 - SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. | b88321exv4w1.htm |
EX-3.1 - EX-3.1 - SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. | b88321exv3w1.htm |
EX-10.5 - EX-10.5 - SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. | b88321exv10w5.htm |
EX-10.2 - EX-10.2 - SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. | b88321exv10w2.htm |
EX-10.1 - EX-10.1 - SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. | b88321exv10w1.htm |
EX-10.6 - EX-10.6 - SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. | b88321exv10w6.htm |
EX-10.4 - EX-10.4 - SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. | b88321exv10w4.htm |
EX-10.3 - EX-10.3 - SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. | b88321exv10w3.htm |
Exhibit 99.1
RXi Pharmaceuticals to Strengthen Strategic Focus by
Separating into Two Publicly Traded Companies
Separating into Two Publicly Traded Companies
Galena Biopharma to Focus on Targeted Cancer Therapies
RXi Pharmaceuticals to Focus on RNAi-Based Therapeutics
RXi Pharmaceuticals to Focus on RNAi-Based Therapeutics
| Separation of oncology and RNAi programs expected to enhance shareholder value through stronger development and strategic focus | ||
| Institutional investors to invest $9.5 million in RXi Pharmaceuticals and $2.5 million in Galena Biopharma | ||
| Galena to retain minority equity interest in RXi with potential to receive up to $45 million in milestones |
WORCESTER, Mass., September 26, 2011 RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII), a
biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative therapies
addressing major unmet medical needs using targeted biotherapeutics, today reported that it will
separate its programs into two publicly traded companies: Galena Biopharma will focus on the
development of targeted cancer therapies; and RXi Pharmaceuticals will focus on the development of
RNAi-based therapeutics. The RNAi programs have been contributed to the new RXi, which is expected
to be spun off later this year. In connection with these transactions, the Company has changed its
name to Galena Biopharma, but will continue to trade under the ticker symbol RXII until the
completion of the spin-off.
As part of these transactions, institutional investors have agreed to invest $9.5 million in RXi
preferred stock and $2.5 million in Galena common stock, for a total of $12 million. The RXi
preferred stock will be convertible into 83% of the equity of RXi as of the completion of the
spin-off. The investment in Galena common stock will be priced at market based on a
volume-weighted average trading price. No warrants will be issued in the transaction.
It is expected that approximately 8% of the equity in RXi will be distributed on a share-for-share
basis so that a holder of one share of Galena common stock prior to the distribution will hold one
share of RXi and one share of Galena after the spin-off. Galena will retain a 4% equity position
in RXi, and Advirna, LLC, a private company and key licensor of RXi, will acquire5% of
the equity. The completion of the spin-off and the related transactions, including the financing
of RXi, are subject to certain conditions, including registration of the spin-off distribution with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Mark Ahn, Ph.D., the President and Chief Executive Officer of Galena Biopharma, will serve on the
board of RXi. Anastasia Khvorova, Ph.D., will serve as RXis Senior Vice President and Chief
Scientific Officer, and Pamela Pavco, Ph.D., will serve as RXis Senior Vice President of
Pharmaceutical Development. A search for RXis Chief Executive Officer is underway.
We believe that the spin-off transaction will enhance shareholder value by providing a sharper
strategic focus for both of the Companys key programs, commented Dr. Ahn. Galena will focus its
resources on its lead product, NeuVax, a cancer immunotherapy that is expected to initiate its
Phase 3 PRESENT (Prevention of Recurrence in Early-Stage, Node-Positive Breast Cancer with Low to
Intermediate HER2 Expression with NeuVax Treatment) study in the first half of 2012. Galena also
recently acquired Folate Binding Protein-E39 (FBP), a targeted vaccine scheduled to commence Phase
1/2 trials by year-end 2011.
Dr. Ahn also stated, RXi will focus on advancing its lead anti-scarring and anti-fibrosis product,
RXI-109, into the clinic in 2012, as well as unlocking the therapeutic potential of gene silencing
more broadly through its proprietary, next generation RNAi platform with several ongoing and future
partners.
Dr. Ahn concluded, We are delighted to be strengthening our balance sheet at this uncertain time
in the financial markets. We view this pair of financings from a strong group of investors as an
endorsement of both of our platforms and our planned path forward.
About Galena Biopharma
Galena Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: RXII) is a Portland, Oregon-based biopharmaceutical company that
develops innovative, targeted oncology treatments that address major unmet medical needs to advance
cancer care. For more information please visit us at www.galenabiopharma.com.
About NeuVax (E75)
NeuVax consists of the E75 peptide derived from human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)
combined with the immune adjuvant granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
Treatment with NeuVax stimulates cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells in a highly specific manner to target
cells expressing any level of HER2. NeuVax is given as an intradermal injection once a month for
six months, followed by a booster injection once every six months. Based on a successful Phase 2
trial, which achieved its primary endpoint of disease free survival (DFS), the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) granted NeuVax a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for its Phase 3 PRESENT
(Prevention of Recurrence in Early-Stage, Node-Positive Breast
Cancer with
Low to Intermediate HER2 Expression with NeuVax Treatment) study. The
Phase 3 trial is expected to commence in the first half of 2012.
According to the National Cancer Institute, over 200,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with
breast cancer annually. Of these women, about 75% test positive for HER2 (IHC 1+, 2+ or 3+). Only
25% of all breast cancer patients, those with HER2 3+ disease, are eligible for Herceptin®
(trastuzumab; Roche-Genentech), which had revenues of over $5 billion in 2010. NeuVax targets the
remaining 50% of HER2-positive patients (HER2 1+ and 2+) who achieve remission with current
standard of care, but have no available HER2-targeted adjuvant treatment options to maintain their
disease-free status.
Folate Binding Protein (FBP)-E39
Folate Binding Protein-E39 (FBP) is a targeted vaccine aimed at preventing the recurrence of
ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers. The FBP vaccine consists of the E39 peptide derived from
the folate binding protein combined with the immune adjuvant granulocyte macrophage colony
stimulating factor (GM-CSF). FBP is over-expressed (20-80 fold) in more than 90% of ovarian and
endometrial cancers, as well as 2050% of breast, lung, colorectal, and renal cell carcinomas.
FBP has very limited tissue distribution and expression in non-malignant tissue, making it an ideal
immunotherapy target. A Phase 1/2 trial is expected to commence by year end 2011.
Ovarian cancer occurs in over 22,000 patients per year in the U.S. and is the most lethal
gynecologic cancer. Although the incidence of ovarian cancer is only approximately 20% of that of
breast cancer, the number of patients that die from ovarian cancer is nearly 50% greater than the
percentage of breast cancer patients who die from this disease. Endometrial cancer is the most
common gynecologic cancer and occurs in over 46,000 women, with over 8,000 deaths, in the U.S.
annually. While many patients respond to initial treatment and become clinically free of disease,
the majority of these patients will relapse, and, once the disease recurs, the treatment options
and successes drop dramatically.
About RXi Pharmaceuticals
RXi Pharmaceuticals is a wholly-owned biotechnology subsidiary of Galena focused on discovering,
developing and commercializing innovative therapies based on its proprietary, next-generation RNAi
platform. Therapeutics that use RNA interference, or RNAi, have great promise because of their
ability to silence, or down-regulate, the expression of a specific gene that may be overexpressed
in a disease condition. Building on the pioneering work of scientific founder and Nobel Laureate
Dr. Craig Mello, RXis first RNAi product candidate, RXI-109, which targets CTGF (connective tissue
growth factor), is scheduled to commence human clinical trials in anti-scarring in 2012. RXi is
expected to be spun-out as an independent, publicly traded
company in late 2011, after which RXis common stock is expected to commence trading under the
symbol RXII.
About RXI-109
RXi Pharmaceuticals has initiated development of clinical candidate RXI-109, a self-delivering RNAi
compound (sd-rxRNA) for the reduction of dermal scarring in planned surgeries. RXI-109 is designed
to reduce the expression of CTGF, a critical regulator of several biological pathways
involved in
fibrosis, including scar formation in the skin. RXI-109 is expected to enter clinical trials in
2012.
About Self-delivering rxRNA (or sd-rxRNA)
RXis sd-rxRNA compounds are designed for therapeutic use and have drug-like properties, such as
high potency, target specificity, serum stability, reduced immune response activation, and
efficient cellular uptake. They are hybrid oligonucleotide molecules that RXi believes combine the
beneficial properties of both conventional RNAi and antisense technologies. sd-rxRNAs have a
single-stranded phosphorothioate region, a short duplex region, and contain a variety of
nuclease-stabilizing and lipophilic chemical modifications. The combination of these features has
the potential to allow sd-rxRNAs to achieve efficient spontaneous cellular uptake and potent,
long-lasting intracellular activity.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about
the possible benefits of the announced transactions and the timing of the proposed spin-off, as
well as statements about expectations, plans and prospects of the development of Galenas and RXis
respective new product candidates. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks that the anticipated benefits of the
announced transactions are not achieved and that the proposed spin-off is delayed or is never
completed, as well as the risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the development of
Galenas and RXis new product candidates, including those identified under Risk Factors in
Galenas most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in
other filings Galena periodically makes with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from
those contemplated by these forward-looking statements. Galena does not undertake to update any of
these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that
occur after the date of this presentation.
Galena is offering the shares of its common stock described above pursuant to a shelf registration
statement on Form S-3, including a base prospectus, previously filed and declared effective by the
SEC. The securities may be offered only by means of a prospectus. A
preliminary prospectus supplement related to the offering will be filed with the SEC. Electronic
copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement, when available, may be obtained by accessing the
SECs website, www.sec.gov.
Contacts:
Contacts:Madeline Hatton
Toll free: +1 (855) 855-GALE (4253), ext. 101
info@galenabiopharma.com
Toll free: +1 (855) 855-GALE (4253), ext. 101
info@galenabiopharma.com
or
Remy Bernarda
IR Sense, LLC
+1 (415) 203-6386
remy@irsense.com
IR Sense, LLC
+1 (415) 203-6386
remy@irsense.com