Atara will retain full rights to tab-cel in other major markets, including North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.
Under the terms of the agreement, Atara will receive an upfront payment of USD 45m, and up to approximately USD 320m in additional regulatory and sales milestone payments, plus significant double-digit tiered royalties as a percentage of net sales.
Atara will continue to be responsible for the pivotal ALLELE study in PTLD as well as submitting the EU Marketing Authorization Application for tabelecleucel in patients with Epstein-Barr virus positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV+ PTLD), which is on track for November 2021.
Atara will also remain responsible for the Phase 2 multi-cohort study, which is evaluating tab-cel in six additional patient populations with the goal of label expansion in EBV-driven cancers.
Pierre Fabre will lead all commercialization and distribution activities in the territories, as well as medical and regulatory activities after the anticipated MAA approval in Europe.
As part of the transaction, Atara will also provide manufacturing services for tab-cel to be paid by Pierre Fabre.
Atara is in T-cell immunotherapy, leveraging its first-in-kind allogeneic off-the-shelf EBV T-cell platform to develop transformative therapies for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Tab-cel is the company's lead candidate in development for EBV-positive cancers, including EBV+ PTLD, where it is currently being investigated in adults and children in the Phase 3 ALLELE study.
Tab-cel has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the US Food and Drug Administration and Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation by the European Medicines Agency.
Pierre Fabre enjoys a 35-year long experience in oncology covering innovation, development, manufacturing and commercialization.
Its Medical Care division has declared oncology as its main R and D and commercial priority, focusing on targeted therapies, biotherapies, and immuno-oncology.
Its therapeutic areas include high unmet medical needs and cover colorectal, breast, lung cancers, melanoma, and pre-cancerous conditions like actinic keratosis.
The company has also developed a strong know-how in leveraging global partnerships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, as demonstrated by several successful collaborations in oncology.
PJT Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor to Atara.
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