Eleven Biotherapeutics completes exclusive licensing deal for IL-6 antagonist antibody technology

Eleven has granted Roche an exclusive, worldwide license to develop and commercialize EBI-031 and all other IL-6 antagonist antibody technology owned by Eleven.

EBI-031 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that potently binds interleukin-6 (IL-6) and inhibits all known forms of IL-6 cytokine signaling. EBI-031 is currently in development for the treatment of ocular diseases.

Eleven is entitled to receive $30 million in payments from Roche, including a $7.5 million upfront payment in connection with the effectiveness of the license agreement, and a $22.5 million milestone payment based on the Investigational New Drug application (IND) for EBI-031 becoming effective.

Under the terms of the agreement, Eleven could receive up to an additional $240 million upon the achievement of certain future regulatory, development and commercialization milestones.

In addition, Eleven could be entitled to receive royalties for net sales of potential future products containing EBI-031 or any other potential future products containing other Eleven IL-6 compounds.

“With the completion of this licensing deal and the IND being effective, we look forward to the future clinical advancement of EBI-031 by Roche as they explore its potential use for ocular diseases, including diabetic macular edema,” said Abbie Celniker, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Eleven Biotherapeutics.

About EBI-031

Eleven Biotherapeutics' most advanced preclinical product candidate is EBI-031 for treatment of diabetic macular edema, or DME, and uveitis. EBI-031 was designed and engineered for intravitreal delivery using Eleven’s AMP-Rx platform.

EBI-031 is a potent blocker of both free IL-6 and IL-6 complexed to the soluble IL-6 receptor (IL-6R). Eleven filed an IND with the FDA in June 2016 and received clearance in July 2016 for the purpose of conducting clinical trials of EBI-031 in DME and uveitis.