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Tuesday, October 29, 2024

GlycoMimetics In Acquisition Agreement With Crescent Biopharma

 Following closing, the combined company will advance Crescent’s portfolio of precision-engineered biologics to improve outcomes for patients with solid tumors

Crescent’s lead program CR-001, a tetravalent PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody incorporating the cooperative binding mechanism underpinning recent immuno-oncology breakthrough, expected to have preliminary proof of concept data in 2H26

Crescent pipeline also includes two novel antibody-drug conjugates with topoisomerase inhibitor payloads, CR-002 and CR-003

Concurrent financing of approximately $200 million anticipated to fund operations through 2027

Companies to hold a conference call on Tuesday October 29, at 8:00am EDT

In support of the acquisition, a syndicate of investors led by Fairmount, Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, BVF Partners, and a large investment management firm, with participation from Paradigm BioCapital, RTW Investments, Blackstone Multi-Asset Investing, Frazier Life Sciences, Commodore Capital, Perceptive Advisers, Deep Track Capital, Boxer Capital Management, Soleus, Logos Capital, Driehaus Capital Management, Braidwell LP, and Wellington Management, has committed $200 million to purchase GlycoMimetics common stock and GlycoMimetics pre-funded warrants to purchase its common stock. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025. The financing is expected to close immediately following the completion of the transaction. The Company’s cash balance at closing is anticipated to fund operations through 2027, including advancement of the Company’s lead program CR-001, a tetravalent PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody, through preliminary proof of concept clinical data in solid tumor patients expected in the second half of 2026.

Crescent is the fifth company to launch with assets discovered and developed by Paragon Therapeutics. CR-001, a tetravalent PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody, matches the format and pharmacology of ivonescimab, which delivered superior efficacy compared to the current market leader pembrolizumab in a large third party Phase 3 trial. In addition to CR-001, Crescent is developing CR-002 and CR-003, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) against undisclosed targets using topoisomerase inhibitor payloads; ADCs with topoisomerase inhibitor payloads have shown improved efficacy and safety compared to ADCs with alternative payloads.

The Company anticipates that the IND for CR-001 will be filed in 4Q25 or 1Q26, and interim Phase 1 data from patients is expected in 2H26. CR-002, Crescent’s first ADC program, is designed to be best-in-class and is expected to initiate Phase 1 in 2026; the Company plans to disclose the target for CR-002 as the program approaches the clinic.

The Company intends to determine potential paths forward for its late stage clinical candidate, Uproleselan, including by supporting continued data analyses of Uproleselan from NCI, its corporate partner for China, Apollomics, and investigator initiated studies.

Conference Call Details

The companies plan to hold a joint conference call on October 29, 2024 at 8:00 AM EDT to discuss the merger details.

To access the call by phone, please go to this registration link and you will be provided with dial in details. Participants are encouraged to connect 15 minutes in advance of the scheduled start time.

A live webcast of the call will be available on the “Investors" tab on the GlycoMimetics website. A webcast replay will be available for 30 days following the call.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241029550680/en/

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