Exclusive License Agreement With Case Western Reserve University for Core-NK Platform (Supplementary Announcement)

Further to the announcement of the exclusive option to license the CORE-NK platform released on 21 November 2022, at the request of the ASX, Chimeric Therapeutics (ASX: CHM, “Chimeric”), a clinical-stage cell therapy company and an Australian leader in cell therapy, provides additional information regarding an exclusive license agreement with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) for the CORE-NK platform, invented by Dr David Wald.

The CORE-NK platform uses a novel, proprietary genetically-modified feeder cell line to activate and expand universal off-the-shelf allogeneic NK cell products derived from healthy donors. The expanded CORE-NK cells exhibit enhanced cytotoxicity, metabolism, and expression of activating receptors compared to fresh, activated NK cells.

Under the agreement, Chimeric gains exclusive global rights to the CORE-NK platform for oncology, where Chimeric and CWRU are currently advancing multiple product candidates in Dr Wald’s laboratory under the Sponsored Research Agreement announced on 2 November 2022. Chimeric also receives exclusive global rights to the CORE-NK platform for immune disorders and viral infectious diseases.

Chimeric’s exclusive global license from CWRU covers patent rights, knowhow, and biological materials in relation to therapeutic products for the NKF feeder cell line and CORE-NK manufacturing process in the fields of use, including access to regulatory documents for the first-in-human Phase 1 trial of CHM 0201.

The agreement is effective immediately, with a minimum term of 20 years (or until the later expiry of relevant patents or licenced product terms). The agreement may be terminated due to unresolved default of payment or performance by either party, or at the sole discretion of Chimeric. Upfront fees associated with the license agreement are not material and will be funded entirely from existing cash reserves. The agreement includes industry standard development milestones, patent costs, maintenance fees, and royalties on commercial net sales. Under the agreement, each party owns all of the rights, title and interest in results developed by them. Chimeric is entitled to use jointly developed results under the terms of the For personal use only agreement.