− ONO Rights Include Oncology Indications for Selinexor and KPT-8602 in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and ASEAN countries —

− Karyopharm to Receive ¥2.5 billion (US$22.3 Million) Upfront; Total Deal Value up to Approximately US$193.0 million with Karyopharm Eligible to Receive up to ¥19.15 billion (US$ 170.7 Million) in Future Milestones, Plus Royalties —

NEWTON, MA, USA and OSAKA, Japan I October 12, 2017 I Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:KPTI) (Karyopharm) and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (ONO), today announced their entry into an exclusive license agreement for the development and commercialization of selinexor, Karyopharm’s lead, novel, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE™) compound, and KPT-8602, Karyopharm’s second-generation oral SINE™ compound.  The agreement includes the development of selinexor and KPT-8602 for the diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of all human oncology indications in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and ASEAN countries (the Territory).

Under the terms of the agreement, Karyopharm will receive a one-time upfront payment of ¥2.5 billion (approximately US$22.3 million) from ONO and retains all rights to selinexor and KPT-8602 outside the Territory.  Karyopharm is eligible to receive up to an additional ¥19.15 billion (approximately US$170.7 million at the current exchange rate) if specified future development and commercial milestones are achieved by ONO.  Karyopharm is also eligible to receive low double-digit royalties based on future net sales of selinexor and KPT-8602 in the Territory.  In exchange, ONO will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize both compounds in the Territory, at its own cost and expense.  ONO will also have the ability to participate in any global clinical study of selinexor and KPT-8602, and will bear the cost and expense for patients enrolled in clinical studies in the Territory. 

“We are very delighted to collaborate on the development of selinexor and KPT-8602, an early development stage XPO-1 inhibitor with Karyopharm, a leading pharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of novel first-in-class drugs in the oncology field,” said Gyo Sagara, President, Representative Director of ONO.  “We believe both products will present a new treatment option to patients suffering from devastating cancers in Asian countries.”

“Given ONO’s established leadership in oncology, including Opdivo® (nivolumab) and Kyprolis® (carfilzomib) in Japan, we believe there is no company better suited to advance both selinexor and KPT-8602 in Japan and the other licensed territories,” said Michael G. Kauffman, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Karyopharm.  “ONO is well-known and widely respected for its clinical development and commercial expertise, and this partnership provides important validation for both compounds, while allowing us to remain focused on executing our late-phase selinexor trials and pursue regulatory approval in the United States and European Union.  We look forward to working with the ONO team to advance both compounds with the goal of rapidly bringing them to patients who are in need of new treatment options.”

About Selinexor

Selinexor (KPT-330) is a first-in-class, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export / SINE™ compound. Selinexor functions by binding with and inhibiting the nuclear export protein XPO1 (also called CRM1), leading to the accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins in the cell nucleus. This reinitiates and amplifies their tumor suppressor function and is believed to lead to the selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells, while largely sparing normal cells. To date, over 2,200 patients have been treated with selinexor, and it is currently being evaluated in several mid- and later-phase clinical trials across multiple cancer indications, including in multiple myeloma in a pivotal, randomized Phase 3 study in combination with Velcade® (bortezomib) and low-dose dexamethasone (BOSTON), in combination with low-dose dexamethasone (STORM) and backbone therapies (STOMP), and in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (SADAL), and liposarcoma (SEAL), among others. Additional Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies are ongoing or currently planned, including multiple studies in combination with one or more approved therapies in a variety of tumor types to further inform Karyopharm’s clinical development priorities for selinexor. Additional clinical trial information for selinexor is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About KPT-8602

KPT-8602 is a second generation oral SINE™ compound.  KPT-8602 functions by binding to and inhibiting the nuclear export protein XPO1 (also called CRM1), leading to the accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins in the cell nucleus.  KPT-8602 has demonstrated minimal brain penetration in animals, which has been associated with reduced toxicities in preclinical studies while maintaining potent anti-tumor effects.

About Karyopharm Therapeutics

Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:KPTI) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel first-in-class drugs directed against nuclear transport and related targets for the treatment of cancer and other major diseases. Karyopharm’s SINE™ compounds function by binding with and inhibiting the nuclear export protein XPO1 (or CRM1). In addition to single-agent and combination activity against a variety of human cancers, SINE™ compounds have also shown biological activity in models of neurodegeneration, inflammation, autoimmune disease, certain viruses and wound-healing. Karyopharm, which was founded by Dr. Sharon Shacham, currently has several investigational programs in clinical or preclinical development. For more information, please visit www.karyopharm.com.

About Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is an R&D-oriented pharmaceutical company committed to creating innovative medicines in specific areas. It focuses especially on the diabetes and oncology areas. For more information, please visit the company’s website at http://www.ono.co.jp/eng/index.html.

SOURCE: Karyopharm