Exhibit 99.1
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Aerpio Announces Amended Licensing Deal with Gossamer Bio on its
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Product Candidate GB004 (formerlyAKB-4924).
Aerpio Received an Immediate Payment of $15 million.
CINCINNATI — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Aerpio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Aerpio”) (Nasdaq: ARPO), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing compounds that activate Tie2 to treat ocular diseases and diabetic complications, today announced a restructuring of their licensing deal with a wholly owned subsidiary of Gossamer Bio Inc., GB004, Inc. (“Gossamer Bio”) (Nasdaq: GOSS), for itsHIF-1 alpha stabilizer, GB004. The terms of the amended agreement include a $15 million immediate payment to Aerpio and a total of $90 million in milestone payments related to regulatory approvals and commercial sales. In addition, Aerpio is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on sales of licensed products at percentages ranging from the low tomid-single digits. The deal continues the collaboration between Gossamer Bio’s strong gastrointestinal (“GI”) development team and Aerpio’s management team.
Joseph Gardner, PhD, Aerpio’s President and Founder, commented “We are excited about continuing our relationship with Gossamer Bio as they advance GB004 with their experienced team in GI drug development. The renegotiated licensing deal is intended to place Gossamer Bio in a better position to progress GB004, and in addition, is designed to facilitate the further development of each company’s respective pipelines.” Additional details of the amended agreement are summarized in an8-K filing dated May 12, 2020.
GB004 is an oral,gut-targetedHIF-1 alpha stabilizer that has been shown to improve disease indices in multiple models of inflammatory bowel disease. “Unlike other HIF stabilizers that mainly affectHIF-2 and stimulate erythropoiesis, GB004 is differentiated in that it preferentially stabilizesHIF-1 alpha which has a profound anti-inflammatory and mucosal healing effect. We believe these properties make it an ideal candidate for the treatment of IBD” said Kevin Peters MD, Aerpio’s Chief Scientific Officer.
About GB004 (formerlyAKB-4924)
GB004, a selective stabilizerHIF-1 alpha, is being developed for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.HIF-1 alpha is involved in mucosal wound healing and the reduction of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Gossamer Bio recently completed a Phase 1b study in patients with ulcerative colitis and is planning a Phase 2 study.
About Aerpio Pharmaceuticals
Aerpio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing compounds that activate Tie2 to treat ocular diseases and diabetic complications. Recently published mouse