Arix Bioscience and Ipsen Sign a Strategic Agreement to Develop and Commercialise Innovative Therapies

Regulatory News:

Arix Bioscience plc (LSE:ARIX) (“Arix”), a global healthcare and life science company supporting medical innovation, and Ipsen (Euronext: IPN; ADR:IPSEY), a global specialty-driven biopharmaceutical company focused on innovation and specialty care, today announced a strategic agreement to develop and commercialise innovative therapies.

Arix will provide Ipsen with access to its unique network of professional and scientific advisors, and the chance to invest in opportunities in Arix’s new and existing businesses. In return, Ipsen will contribute research, development and commercial expertise to the partnership. Arix and Ipsen will collaborate to identify opportunities and jointly create new companies focused primarily on the development and commercialisation of innovative therapies for patients.

Joe Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Arix Bioscience plc, commented: “This agreement brings together Ipsen’s deep expertise in drug development and commercialization with Arix’s proven capacity to identify new opportunities and build companies to develop innovative new therapies in areas of high unmet medical need. Arix is committed to acquiring interests in, and assisting in the development of, businesses that bring medical innovation and address important areas with limited available treatment options. We look forward to collaborating with Ipsen to identify new opportunities to drive innovation, improve patient outcomes and, ultimately, future value for our shareholders.”

David Meek, Chief Executive Officer of Ipsen, added: “We are committed to discovering and developing innovative therapeutic solutions for targeted debilitating diseases and improving the quality of life for patients. By building this relationship with Arix, we can benefit from Arix’s leading networks, advisors and businesses and can support these in turn with our R&D and commercialisation capabilities and expertise. We look forward to working together and supporting the next generation of companies developing life-changing medicines for patients.”

Arix made investments into 13 innovative life science companies in 2016 and 2017, with multiple value-creating milestones expected over the next 18 months. Arix expects to continue to build on its already rich pipeline to provide funding and expertise to additional new businesses in 2018.

About Arix Bioscience plc

Arix Bioscience plc is a global healthcare and life science company supporting medical innovation. Headquartered in London and with an office in New York, Arix Bioscience sources, finances and builds world class healthcare and life science businesses addressing medical innovation at all stages of development. Operations are supported by privileged access to breakthrough academic science and strategic relationships with leading research accelerators and global pharmaceutical companies.

Arix Bioscience plc is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. For further information, please visit www.arixbioscience.com

About Ipsen

Ipsen is a global specialty-driven biopharmaceutical group focused on innovation and specialty care. The group develops and commercializes innovative medicines in three key therapeutic areas - Oncology, Neurosciences and Rare Diseases. Its commitment to oncology is exemplified through its growing portfolio of key therapies for prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, renal cell carcinoma and pancreatic cancer. Ipsen also has a well-established Consumer Healthcare business. With total sales over €1.9 billion in 2017, Ipsen sells more than 20 drugs in over 115 countries, with a direct commercial presence in more than 30 countries. Ipsen's R&D is focused on its innovative and differentiated technological platforms located in the heart of the leading biotechnological and life sciences hubs (Paris-Saclay, France; Oxford, UK; Cambridge, US). The Group has about 5,400 employees worldwide. Ipsen is listed in Paris (Euronext: IPN) and in the United States through a Sponsored Level I American Depositary Receipt program (ADR: IPSEY). For more information on Ipsen, visit www.ipsen.com.

Ipsen Forward Looking Statement

The forward-looking statements, objectives and targets contained herein are based on the Group’s management strategy, current views and assumptions. Such statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated herein. All of the above risks could affect the Group’s future ability to achieve its financial targets, which were set assuming reasonable macroeconomic conditions based on the information available today. Use of the words "believes," "anticipates" and "expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, including the Group’s expectations regarding future events, including regulatory filings and determinations. Moreover, the targets described in this document were prepared without taking into account external growth assumptions and potential future acquisitions, which may alter these parameters. These objectives are based on data and assumptions regarded as reasonable by the Group. These targets depend on conditions or facts likely to happen in the future, and not exclusively on historical data. Actual results may depart significantly from these targets given the occurrence of certain risks and uncertainties, notably the fact that a promising product in early development phase or clinical trial may end up never being launched on the market or reaching its commercial targets, notably for regulatory or competition reasons. The Group must face or might face competition from generic products that might translate into a loss of market share. Furthermore, the Research and Development process involves several stages each of which involves the substantial risk that the Group may fail to achieve its objectives and be forced to abandon its efforts with regards to a product in which it has invested significant sums. Therefore, the Group cannot be certain that favourable results obtained during pre-clinical trials will be confirmed subsequently during clinical trials, or that the results of clinical trials will be sufficient to demonstrate the safe and effective nature of the product concerned. There can be no guarantees a product will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that the product will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the Group's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the Group’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. The Group also depends on third parties to develop and market some of its products which could potentially generate substantial royalties; these partners could behave in such ways which could cause damage to the Group’s activities and financial results. The Group cannot be certain that its partners will fulfil their obligations. It might be unable to obtain any benefit from those agreements. A default by any of the Group’s partners could generate lower revenues than expected. Such situations could have a negative impact on the Group’s business, financial position or performance. The Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward looking statements, targets or estimates contained in this press release to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. The Group’s business is subject to the risk factors outlined in its registration documents filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers.

The risks and uncertainties set out are not exhaustive and the reader is advised to refer to the Group’s 2016 Registration Document available on its website (www.ipsen.com).

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Contact information

Arix Bioscience plc
Charlotte Parry, +44 (0)20 7290 1072
Investor Relations Manager
charlotte@arixbioscience.com
or
Consilium Strategic Communications
Mary-Jane Elliott, Jessica Hodgson, Ivar Milligan, +44 (0)20 3709 5700
arix@consilium-comms.com
or
Ipsen
Media
Ian Weatherhead, +44 (0)75 8423 0549
Vice President Corporate External Communication
ian.weatherhead@ipsen.com
or
Brigitte Le Guennec, +33 (0)1 58 33 51 17
Senior Manager, Global External Communications
brigitte.le.guennec@ipsen.com
or
Financial Community
Eugenia Litz, +44 (0)17 5362 7721
eugenia.litz@ipsen.com