Caelum Biosciences

Caelum Biosciences is a clinical stage biotechnology company that develops methods and drugs for the treatment of light chain amyloidosis (AL).

History

2021: AstraZeneca bought Alexion

At the end of September 2021, Alexion, owned by AstraZeneca, exercised its option in a deal worth up to $500 million to acquire all remaining shares of Caelum Biosciences. The deal aims to get the customer the CAEL-101 product, potentially the first-in-class fibrillar-reactive monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to treat light chain amyloidosis.

AL-amyloidosis is a rare disease in which malformed amyloid proteins accumulate in the organs of the whole body, including the heart and kidneys, causing significant organ damage and failure, which can ultimately be fatal. About 20 thousand people in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK live with AL-amyloidosis, classified as Mayo disease of stage IIa or IIb.

AstraZeneca acquired Alexion

With an average survival duration of less than 18 months after diagnosis, there is an urgent need for new treatments for this devastating disease. The drug CAEL-101 could be the first therapy aimed at removing amyloid deposits from organ tissues, improving organ function and ultimately prolonging patients' lives, said Alexion Chief Executive Officer Marc Dunoyer.

As of September 30, 2021, CAEL-101 is assessed as part of a phase III clinical program to achieve cardiac amyloid for long-term survival (CARES) in combination with standard therapy (SoC) in AL-amyloidosis. Two concurrent phase III trials are ongoing in patients with Mayo-classified stage IIa disease and in patients with Mayo-classified stage IIb disease, respectively.

Alexion will pay $150 million to buy the remaining stake in Caelum Biosciences, which it does not yet own, and will make payments of up to $350 million, depending on the agreements reached. Alexion acquired a minority stake in Caelum Biosciences in 2019. Caelum Biosciences will become part of Alexion, a rare disease specialist, of AstraZeneca, which it bought for $39 billion in early 2021.^[1]

Notes