Freshfields advises Affimed on cooperation with Artiva Biotherapeutics

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD) (‘Affimed‘), an immuno-oncology company, on its announced strategic collaboration with Artiva Biotherapeutics Inc. (‘Artiva‘), likewise an immuno-oncology company, to jointly develop, manufacture, and commercialize a combination therapy comprised of Affimed’s Innate Cell Engager (ICE®) product candidate AFM13 and Artiva’s cord blood-derived, cryopreserved off-the-shelf allogeneic NK cell product candidate, AB-101.

Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Affimed and Artiva will pursue the development of the AFM13/AB-101 combination treatment in the United States on a co-exclusive basis. Affimed will lead regulatory activities through Phase 2 and any confirmatory studies. Affimed will be responsible for funding clinical study costs through Phase 2, while Artiva will be responsible for the costs of supplying AB-101 and certain interleukins for such studies. If accelerated approval is obtained, the companies will share confirmatory study costs on a 50/50 basis. Both companies will retain commercialization and distribution rights and book sales for their respective products. Affimed will be responsible for promotional activities and expenses of the combination therapy. Pursuant to the agreement, revenues from the combination will be shared, with Affimed receiving 67% of the combination therapy revenue and Artiva receiving 33%.

Freshfields advised on all legal aspects of the cooperation agreement. The Freshfields team was led by Partner Philipp Dohnke and Principal Associate Elisabeth Wulf (both Life Sciences, Hamburg), and further comprised Partners Joe Soltis (Tax, New York), Alexander Schwahn (Tax, Hamburg), Kristen Riemenschneider (Life Sciences, Washington DC) as well as Counsel Dennis Caracristi (Tax, New York) and Principal Associate Tobias Franz (Tax, Hamburg).