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news.MabVax Therapeutics, a privately held cancer immunotherapy company, and Telik, aclinical stage oncology drug development company, have entered into a definitive merger agreement.
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Upon closing of the transaction, MabVax and Telik will be combined into a publicly traded company focused on the development of proprietary immunotherapy-based products to diagnose and treat cancer. Under the terms of the merger agreement, MabVax will merge with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Telik in an all-stock transaction.
The boards of directors of both companies have approved the merger and the stockholders of MabVax have also approved the merger. The merger is subject to the approval of the Telik stockholders as well as other customary conditions.
Upon the closing of the transaction, Telik will be re-named MabVax Therapeutics Holdings and will operate under the leadership of the MabVax management team with MabVax president and CEO David Hansen serving as the president, CEO, and chairman of the board. Dr Michael Wick, who currently serves as president and CEO of Telik, will remain on the board.
On a pro forma basis calculated at the close of the merger and assuming that Telik maintains its listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market through the closing of the transaction, the Telik stockholders, warrant holders and option holders prior to the close will own 15% of the combined company and MabVax stockholders, warrant holders and option holders will own 85%.
Simultaneous with execution of the merger agreement, certain accredited investors have agreed to invest $2.5m in Telik in support of the merger. Telik expects to file a proxy statement in May for a stockholder vote on approval of the merger, certain aspects of the investment, and related matters at a meeting expected to be held in June.
MabVax president and CEO David Hansen noted that through this transaction the company hopes to expand its current clinical platform as the company pursues its lead monoclonal antibody product, 5B1, and clinical stage cancer vaccine programs.
"We hope to see several of our programs achieve significant milestones in the next 24 to 30 months. Through this transaction, our combined company will have an expanded pipeline, including a Phase 3-ready drug with FDA orphan designation available for licensing, as well as access to public markets and added financial resources," Hansen added.