UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
February 27, 2019
(Commission File No. 001-38475)
ASLAN PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED
(REG. NO. 289175)
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
CAYMAN ISLANDS
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation)
83 CLEMENCEAU AVENUE
#12-03 UE SQUARE
SINGAPORE 239920
(Address of registrant’s principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101 (b) (1):
Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101 (b) (7):
Yes ☐ No ☒
Announcement of Licensing Deal with Biogenetics Co., Ltd. for Varlitinib South Korea
On February 27, 2019, Aslan Pharmaceuticals Limited (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that it has signed a licensing deal for its drug varlitinib covering South Korea with Biogenetics Co., Ltd. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
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Exhibit |
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Exhibit Description |
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99.1 |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
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ASLAN PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED |
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(Registrant) |
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By: |
/s/ Kiran Kumar Asarpota
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Name: |
Kiran Kumar Asarpota |
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Title: |
VP Finance |
Date: February 27, 2019
Exhibit 99.1
PRESS RELEASE
ASLAN PHARMACEUTICALS TO PARTNER WITH BIOGENETICS ON COMMERCIALISATION OF VARLITINIB IN SOUTH KOREA
Singapore, 27 February 2019 – ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ASLN, TPEx:6497), a clinical-stage oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for global markets, and BioGenetics Co Ltd, a leading South Korean healthcare company, have entered into an agreement whereby both parties will collaborate to commercialise varlitinib in all indications in South Korea.
ASLAN will grant BioGenetics exclusive rights to commercialise varlitinib in South Korea in exchange for an upfront payment of US$2 million and up to US$11 million in sales and development milestones. ASLAN is also eligible to receive tiered double digit royalties on net sales up to the mid-twenties. ASLAN will continue to fund all clinical development of varlitinib, BioGenetics will be responsible for obtaining initial and all subsequent regulatory approvals of varlitinib in South Korea.
ASLAN is currently conducting a global pivotal trial (TreeTopp) in second-line biliary tract cancer (BTC), with topline data expected in the second half of 2019. At the recent ASCO GI conference, ASLAN presented positive data from an ongoing multicentre phase 1b/2 clinical trial of varlitinib plus gemcitabine and cisplatin in first-line BTC. Varlitinib has been awarded orphan drug designation for the treatment of BTC by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea, which provides certain benefits for the development and commercialisation of varlitinib in South Korea including an extension of the marketing exclusivity period and exemption of certain local clinical trial requirements.
Dr Carl Firth, Chief Executive Officer of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, commented: “We are delighted to partner with a team that brings strong knowledge of the South Korean regulatory and commercial environment. We believe BioGenetics is well placed to maximise the value of varlitinib in BTC and potentially other tumour types in the future.”
JooHoon Ahn, Chief Executive Officer of Biopharma, BioGenetics, commented: “We are excited by the clinical data in BTC that ASLAN has generated to date. The unmet need for effective treatments for BTC, one of the ten most prevalent cancers in South Korea, is high. Our partnership with ASLAN is in-line with our strategy to identify high-quality, late stage development assets that have the potential to transform treatment paradigms and address pressing needs in oncology. We have attracted a team of experienced pharmaceutical executives to build our pharmaceutical division and we look forward to working closely with ASLAN to realise the potential of varlitinib in South Korea.”
In 2015, ASLAN entered a collaboration and license agreement with Hyundai Pharm to develop and commercialise varlitinib for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in South Korea. Prior to executing a broader agreement with BioGenetics, ASLAN exercised its right to buy back the rights to varlitinib in CCA, making a payment of $0.3M to Hyundai Pharm.
Ends
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Emma Thompson Spurwing Communications Tel: +65 6340 7287 Email: ASLAN@spurwingcomms.com
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Robert Uhl Westwicke Partners Tel: +1 858 356 5932 Email: robert.uhl@westwicke.com
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About Varlitinib
Varlitinib (ASLAN001) is a highly potent, oral, reversible, small molecule pan-HER inhibitor that targets the human epidermal growth factor receptors HER1, HER2 and HER4. These receptors can be mutated or overexpressed in many tumors, which can cause excessive proliferative activity and uncontrolled growth. Therefore, by inhibiting the activation of the HER receptors, varlitinib could inhibit proliferation and control tumor growth. Varlitinib is currently being studied in a global pivotal study (TreeTopp) for 2nd line biliary tract cancer. Varlitinib has been granted orphan drug designation in the United States for cholangiocarcinoma, a sub-type of biliary tract cancer, and was awarded orphan drug designation for the treatment of biliary tract cancer by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea.
About ASLAN Pharmaceuticals
ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ASLN, TPEx:6497) is a clinical-stage oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for global markets. ASLAN targets diseases that are both highly prevalent in Asia and orphan indications in the United States and Europe. Led by a senior management team with extensive experience in global and regional development and commercialisation, ASLAN is headquartered in Singapore and has offices in Taiwan and China. ASLAN’s portfolio is comprised of three product candidates which target validated growth pathways applied to new patient segments, novel immune checkpoints and novel cancer metabolic pathways. ASLAN’s partners include Array BioPharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Almirall and CSL. For additional information please visit www.aslanpharma.com.
About BioGenetics
BioGenetics, formerly Unidus Corporation, is a Korea-based company established in 1973 engaged in the manufacturing of medical products. As part of the company’s diversification strategy, BioGenetics established its biopharmaceutical division in April 2018 and appointed Mr Joohoon Ahn, as CEO of the newly established division. Mr Ahn was most recently Senior Managing Director at Kwangdong Pharmaceuticals, one of the top 3 domestic pharmaceutical companies in Korea, and has 28 years of experience in the Korean pharma industry in regulatory affairs, commercialisation, and business development. Biogenetics is co-developing WM-S1-001 for Erbitux®-resistant colon cancer with WellMarkerBio, a spin-off company from Asan Medical Center, one of the largest private hospitals in Korea.
Forward looking statements
This release and the accompanying financial information, if any, contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the management of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Limited and/or its affiliates (the "Company"). These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s business strategy, the Company’s plans to develop and commercialise its product candidates, the safety and efficacy of the Company’s product candidates, the Company’s plans and expected timing with respect to regulatory filings and approvals, and the size and growth potential of the markets for the Company’s product candidates. The Company’s estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Company’s business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and inherently involve significant
known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation the risk factors described in the Company’s US Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports (Commission File No. 001-38475), including the Company’s prospectus dated May 8, 2018 filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on such date.
All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “might,” “could,” “will,” “aim,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” or the negative of those terms, and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are intended to identify estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements. Estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and, except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or review any estimate, projection or forward-looking statement.