Medigene AG: TCR alliance with bluebird bio significantly increased and cash guidance improved

Planegg (pta006/14.05.2018/07:51 UTC+2) Medigene AG (MDG1, Frankfurt, Prime Standard), Germany, today announced the significant expansion of its strategic alliance with bluebird bio, a leader in gene and cell therapies. The partnership is focusing on the research and development of T cell receptor-modified T cell (TCR-T) immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, and the number of planned TCR projects will now increase from four to six.

Under the revised terms of the agreement, the number of target antigen/MHC restriction combinations for the discovery of specific TCR lead candidates by Medigene will be expanded from four to six. As part of this contractual expansion, Medigene will receive an additional one-time payment of USD 8 million. R&D funding for all work performed by Medigene in this collaboration will grow proportionally to address the broader scope of the collaboration. In addition, the aggregate amount of all potential development and commercial milestones as well as royalty payments has been significantly increased in line with the extended number of TCR projects. If successfully developed and marketed through several indications and markets, Medigene could receive up to USD 250 million in milestone payments per TCR program in addition to tiered royalty payments on net sales up to a double-digit percentage. Following the amendment of the agreement, Medigene anticipates receiving an additional payment of USD 1 million associated with the first collaboration project under the agreement.

Based on the terms of the agreement signed in September 2016, Medigene is responsible for the discovery of TCRs for each target antigen selected by bluebird bio using its TCR technology platform. Following the collaborative non-clinical development, bluebird bio will assume sole responsibility for pre-clinical¬ and clinical development and commercialization of the TCR-T cell product candidates and will receive an exclusive license for the intellectual property covering the selected TCRs.

As a result of the payments mentioned above, Medigene improves the Company's cash burn guidance for 2018 and now anticipates a cash usage of EUR 16-19 million instead of EUR 21-25 million for the full year. Revenue, R&D expense and EBITDA guidance for 2018 will not change substantially as a result of this expansion of the agreement. Full financial guidance will be provided in Medigene's 6-months report 2018.

(end)

Emitter:	Medigene AG Lochhamer Straße 11 82152 Planegg Germany
Contact Person:	Julia Hofmann, Head of Public and Investor Relations
Phone:	+49 89 200033-3301
E-Mail:	investor@medigene.com
Website:	www.medigene.de
ISIN(s):	DE000A1X3W00 (Share)
Stock Exchange(s):	Regulated Market in Frankfurt; Free Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate