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CANCER: IMMUNE-MODULATION IS THE NEXT BIG THING
Oncology is highly amenable to antibody therapy and represents a large and growing market
opportunity. As a result of scientific advances, oncology is a therapeutic area where targeted
therapies, such as antibodies, are being pioneered. Several of the top selling therapeutic antibodies
target cancer, including Rituxan® (USD 7.1 billion sales in 2012), Herceptin® (USD 6.2 billion sales in
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BUSINESS SECTION CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Annual Report 2014
2012) and Avastin® (USD 6.1 billion sales in 2012). Recently, immunomodulation of cancer using
therapeutic antibodies against immune checkpoint targets such as Yervoy® (targeting CTLA-4),
Nivolumab (targeting PD-1) has shown strong clinical promise. As a result, immunotherapy is believed
to become the treatment backbone in up to 60% of cancers over the next 10 years (source:
Immunotherapy – The Beginning of the End for Cancer. Citi Research, Andrew S. Baum, 22 May 2013).
arGEN-X believes that several of its proprietary programs including ARGX-110, which targets CD70,
and the GARP discovery program, have development potential in this area, since these are pursuing
novel immunomodulation targets. arGEN-X believes that ARGX-111 represents a distinct and
differentiated approach to targeting c-Met, a complex target involved in several of the major solid
tumors.
AUTO-IMMUNE MARKET CONTINUES TO GROW
Autoimmune diseases involve self-tissue destruction by T-cells and antibodies due to a lack of selftolerance.
The incidence of autoimmune diseases is increasing. Antibody therapy is used in several of
these diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Established antibody therapies in the autoimmune space include Humira® (USD 9.5 billion sales in
2012), Remicade®, (USD 7.4 billion sales in 2012) and Tysabri® (USD 1.6 billion sales in 2012) (source: La
Merie Publishing, Top 30 Biologics 2012, May 7, 2013). arGEN-X believes that its proprietary programs
ARGX-110 and ARGX-113 offer distinct and differentiated modes of action in the management of
severe autoimmune disease.
Next to the large clinical indications, oncology and severe autoimmune diseases also comprise
multiple orphan indications. arGEN-X believes those to be particularly attractive owing to
manageable clinical trial sizes and required financial investments, potentially shorter product
development timelines and sustained product pricing potential following approval.
While arGEN-X focuses on oncology and severe autoimmune diseases for its proprietary therapeutic
programs, its collaborative and partnered antibody discovery efforts span diverse therapeutic areas,
including diseases of the central nervous system and metabolic diseases, underscoring the broad
applicability of its technologies.