Goodwin represented RedoxTherapies, Inc. in its sale to Juno Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: JUNO). The acquisition provides Juno with an exclusive license to vipadenant, a small molecule adenosine A2a (A2a) receptor antagonist that has the potential to disrupt important immunosuppressive pathways in the tumor microenvironment in certain cancers. Redox received $10 million in upfront cash and is eligible for additional payments upon the achievement of undisclosed clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones.
RedoxTherapies is a privately held company based on the pioneering adenosine research of founder Michail Sitkovsky, Ph.D. The goal of Redox is to utilize A2 adenosine antagonists to re-activate the otherwise inhibited tumor-reactive T cells, which remain inhibited even after blockade of immunological checkpoint inhibitors.
Juno Therapeutics is building a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on re-engaging the body’s immune system to revolutionize the treatment of cancer. Founded on the vision that the use of human cells as therapeutic entities will drive one of the next important phases in medicine, Juno is developing cell-based cancer immunotherapies to recognize and kill cancer.
The Goodwin team advising Redox was led by partner Michael Bison (Technology & Life Sciences) and included partner Janet Andolina and associate Sonita Bennitt (Tax); partner Kingsley Taft, counsel Kathleen Kean (IP); and paralegal Michele Eason.
For more information on the transaction, please view the press release.