Stayble Therapeutics

This interview is part of an interview series with a previous interview of CEO Andreas Gerward performed by Kalqyl, available at the following link (Swedish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCzjXXUJHOQ

Introduction to Jane Buus Laursen

Jane has been part of Stayble’s Board since 2018, and she contributes with her extensive knowledge of business development and partnering processes in pharma and biotech. She is an enthusiastic pharmaceutical business development professional with extensive experience in creative deal-making and commercial evaluation of products, technologies, and businesses with a solid track record of completed deals.

She has experience from business development and strategic roles in pharma, previously at AstraZeneca and currently at Novo Nordisk in Copenhagen, where she is Corporate Vice President & Head of Integration & Strategic Alliances, Global Business Development.
 

Let's start with a broad question - Why do you believe Stayble is an interesting company?

Stayble’s innovation, STA363, addresses a serious unmet medical need; many people suffer from back pain that impacts their quality of life and ability to work and live an active life. Pain caused by lumbar disc herniation often affects people of active working age, which makes an efficient treatment attractive from a payer's perspective. Furthermore, the innovation represents the potential to be disease-modifying – with a one-time treatment – and a mechanism of action that is easy to understand. The team behind Stayble are dedicated and skilled people who have successfully conducted clinical development to date; they go the extra mile with an entrepreneurial spirit, solution orientation, and a can-do attitude.

What is your view on STA363, and what aspects do you believe will spark interest among potential partners:

The therapy represents a minimally invasive treatment for patients with back pain caused by disc herniation and can ultimately help reduce the need for opioid use. In addition to the potential to address a great unmet need, the product comes with a strong safety package from 100 patients, which is extensive for being in phase 1b. The recent phase 1b data on change in disc volume represent important proof for the product’s mechanism of action. Furthermore, the manufacturing method is scalable and straightforward.

What type of deal structures are relevant for Stayble and STA363?

It will depend on the partner, but everything from a specific asset license focusing on further development in collaboration with Stayble to a full company acquisition would be in scope. 

Can you describe the partnering process and a typical partner? What are the key steps going forward?

The first step is to create interest with potential strategic partners; this is done through dialogues that are initiated either via direct reach-out or partnering meetings and the first discussions are based on non-confidential information. The Stayble team has worked over the years to build good relations with potential partners, and new contacts are being identified. When the initial interest is confirmed, the partner will usually sign a non-disclosure agreement to get access to more detailed data and other confidential information. If the interest remains, discussions about potential strategic collaborations and deal structures can start. A formal confirmation of interest and indicative offer from the partner, sufficiently attractive for Stayble, will allow the partner into the full Due Diligence; this is a detailed review of data and information relevant to the considered deal.

Stayble will, together with its advisors, orchestrate a process that allows conversations with multiple potential partners/buyers in parallel; this is a typical way to allow efficient use of the team’s time and create competition among bidders. In this process, Stayble will look for a partner that considers STA363 having a strong fit with its pipeline and future strategy, and a partner that has the capabilities required for late-stage development of pain products as well as the ability and muscle to successfully commercialize the product in the US as well as in other key markets.

And finally - How do you see the board's role in the partnering process?

In this strategic phase, the board acts as a sparring partner for the Stayble team. The board members also provide advice and leverage their network of experts and relevant players in the industry. Eventually, the board will look for a strategic deal and path forward that maximizes the value for Stayble’s shareholders.

For more information

Andreas Gerward, CEO of Stayble Therapeutics AB

Mail: andreas.gerward@stayble.se

Phone: +46 730 808 397

About Stayble Therapeutics AB

Stayble is a clinical pharmaceutical company developing the injection treatment STA363 for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Stayble's vision is to offer patients a simple and effective treatment that targets the underlying cause of the patient's chronic pain and provides lasting pain relief and increased physical function. The treatment is aimed at patients who are not helped by physical therapy and painkillers and is a single injection that is expected to last a lifetime and requires minimal rehabilitation. After convincing data from previous pre-clinical and clinical studies (phase 1b and 2b) in degenerative disc disease, which show a volume reduction of the discs, the Company has successfully completed a phase 1b study for the treatment of herniated discs.

The company's Certified Adviser is Svensk Kapitalmarknadsgranskning AB.