Ipsen Beefs Up Pre-Clinical Oncology Pipeline With Over $850M Deal With BAKX Therapeutics

Ipsen SA IPSEY and privately-held BAKX Therapeutics Inc have signed an exclusive worldwide collaboration agreement to research, develop, manufacture, and commercialize BKX-001 as a potential treatment for leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumors.
Under the agreement, Ipsen will pay BAKX $14.5 million, comprising an equity investment and an upfront payment, followed by up to $837.5 million in milestone payments.
The companies would also share equally costs and profits.
BKX-001 is an oral small molecule activator of the BCL-2 associated protein- X (BAX).
BKX-001 binds to the trigger site of BAX in a catalytic manner, stimulating a conformational change in BAX to drive apoptosis in tumor cells.
Apoptosis is the naturally occurring process of programmed cell death. Deregulated apoptosis can lead to uncontrolled cell division and the development of a tumor.
Price Action: IPSEY stock was trading at $25.20 on Tuesday.