XOMA’s Royalty Portfolio Grows with Addition of Three Royalty Assets

EMERYVILLE, Calif., April 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XOMA Corporation (Nasdaq: XOMA) today announced its portfolio of potential future milestone and royalty assets has increased with the addition of three Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD) innate cell engager (ICE^®) programs for which XOMA could receive future economics. In 2006, Affimed licensed certain XOMA technologies to further its research and discovery efforts.

“It’s always exciting to see XOMA’s legacy technology license agreements mature into clinical-stage drug candidates that may generate economic benefits for XOMA in the future. We’re delighted to add AFM13, AFM24, and an undisclosed clinical-stage partnered asset to XOMA’s portfolio,” stated Jim Neal, Chief Executive Officer at XOMA.

• AFM13, which has Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is a first-in-class CD30/CD16A ICE^® generated from Affimed’s ROCK^® platform that induces specific and selective killing of CD30-positive tumor cells by engaging and activating natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages, thereby leveraging the power of the body’s own innate immune system. Affimed currently is studying AFM13 in combination with cord blood-derived allogeneic natural killer cells in cooperation with the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
• AFM24 is a tetravalent, bispecific EGFR- and CD16A-binding ICE^® also generated from Affimed’s ROCK^® platform. AFM24 uses the cytotoxic potential of the innate immune system by redirecting and activating NK cells and macrophages to kill EGFR-positive cancer cells through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), respectively.

XOMA is eligible to receive undisclosed payments on future commercial sales of each of the three ICE^® molecules and any pre-loaded NK cells containing the ICE^® molecules. Additionally, XOMA is eligible to receive an undisclosed milestone for each program on achieving marketing approval.

About XOMA Corporation
XOMA has built a significant portfolio of products that are licensed to and being developed by other biotech and pharmaceutical companies. The Company’s portfolio of partner-funded programs spans multiple stages of the drug development process and across various therapeutic areas. Many of these licenses are the result of XOMA’s pioneering efforts in the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics. The Company’s royalty-aggregator business model includes acquiring additional milestone and royalty rights associated with drug development programs with third-party funding. For more information, visit www.xoma.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the potential of XOMA’s portfolio of partnered programs and licensed technologies generating substantial milestone and royalty proceeds over time, creating additional value for the stockholders, cash sufficiency forecast, economic outlook, and potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These statements are based on assumptions that may not prove accurate, and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to certain risks inherent in the biotechnology industry, including those related to the fact that our product candidates subject to out-license agreements are still being developed, and our licensees may require substantial funds to continue development which may not be available; we do not know whether there will be, or will continue to be, a viable market for the products in which we have an ownership or royalty interest; if the therapeutic product candidates to which we have a royalty interest do not receive regulatory approval, our third-party licensees will not be able to market them, and the impact to the global economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other potential risks to XOMA meeting these expectations are described in more detail in XOMA's most recent filing on Form 10-K and in other SEC filings. Consider such risks carefully when considering XOMA's prospects. Any forward-looking statement in this press release represents XOMA's views only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. XOMA disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.

EXPLANATORY NOTE: Any references to “portfolio” in this press release refer strictly to milestone and/or royalty rights associated with a basket of drug products in development. Any references to “assets” in this press release refer strictly to milestone and/or royalty rights associated with individual drug products in development. References to royalties or royalty rates strictly refer to future potential payment streams regardless of whether or not they are technically defined as royalties in the underlying contractual agreement; further, any rates referenced herein are subject to potential future contractual adjustments.

As of the date of this press release, all assets in XOMA’s milestone and royalty portfolio are investigational compounds. Efficacy and safety have not been established. There is no guarantee that any of these assets will become commercially available.