WALTHAM, Mass. and VIENNA, Austria, June 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arsanis, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASNS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on applying monoclonal antibody immunotherapies to address serious infectious diseases, today announced that it has entered into an agreement under which BB200, LLC, a portfolio company of Bravos Biosciences, LLC, has secured an exclusive, worldwide preclinical development license, and an option to a clinical development and commercialization license to selected monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting K. pneumoniae that were discovered by Arsanis in its ASN300 program, including lead preclinical development candidate, ASN-5. In April 2018, Arsanis entered into a similar agreement for its ASN200 program, targeting E. coli, with Bravos Biosciences subsidiary BB100, LLC.

"Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for some of the most lethal and antibiotic-resistant hospital-acquired infections and we are excited that the expert team at Bravos Biosciences will continue to move these non-antibiotic monoclonal antibody programs forward," said René Russo, chief executive officer of Arsanis. "With the successful out-licensing of antibodies from our ASN200 and ASN300 programs, we have completed our strategic goal of focusing our development pipeline while ensuring the potential advancement of these important gram-negative targeted mAbs under the leadership of a well-known expert team.  This transaction allows Arsanis to focus on execution of our lead program, ASN100, currently in Phase 2 development for the prevention of S. aureus pneumonia in high-risk, mechanically ventilated patients, and on ASN500 for respiratory syncytial virus infection, slated to begin clinical development in 2019."

About BB200
BB200 is a fully owned subsidiary of Bravos Biosciences, LLC.  Paul G. Ambrose, Pharm.D., F.I.D.S.A., currently serves as president of the Institute for Clinical Pharmacodynamics (ICPD, Schenectady, NY). Both Bravos Biosciences and ICPD are cofounded by Drs. Ambrose, Sujata M. Bhavnani and Christopher M. Rubino.  The team's areas of scientific inquiry primarily involve anti-infective translational science, with the goal of improving patient care through the application of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) principles. Dr. Ambrose has held academic appointments at the University of Oxford and the University at Buffalo as well as past industry positions including at Bristol Myers Squibb. Dr. Ambrose holds a Pharm.D. from the University of the Pacific and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in infectious diseases at Hartford Hospital. 

About Arsanis
Arsanis, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on applying monoclonal antibody (mAb) immunotherapies to address serious infectious diseases. A deep understanding of the pathogenesis of infection, paired with access to what the company believes to be some of the most advanced mAb discovery techniques and platforms available today, has positioned Arsanis to further its goal of building and advancing a pipeline of novel mAbs with multiple mechanisms of action and high potency against their intended targets. The company's lead clinical program, ASN100, is aimed at serious Staphylococcus aureus infections and is being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial for the prevention of S. aureus pneumonia in high-risk, mechanically ventilated patients. In addition to ASN100, its preclinical pipeline is comprised of mAbs targeting multiple serious bacterial and viral pathogens, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include those regarding Arsanis' plans, strategies and expectations for the clinical development of its mAb programs; the expected benefits of the option and license agreement for ASN 300; and the potential benefit of its strategic plans and focus. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "would," "could," "potential," "possible," "hope," "strategy," "milestone," "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from Arsanis' current expectations and beliefs. For example, there can be no guarantee that any mAb programs Arsanis is developing will successfully commence or complete necessary preclinical and clinical development phases, or that development of any of Arsanis' product candidates (including the product candidates Arsanis chooses to out-license) will successfully continue. There can be no guarantee that any positive developments in Arsanis' business will result in stock price appreciation. Management's expectations and, therefore, any forward-looking statements in this press release could also be affected by risks and uncertainties relating to a number of other important factors, including: Arsanis' results of clinical trials and preclinical studies, including subsequent analysis of existing data and new data received from ongoing and future studies; the content and timing of decisions made by the U.S. FDA and other regulatory authorities, investigational review boards at clinical trial sites and publication review bodies; Arsanis' ability to obtain and maintain requisite regulatory approvals and to enroll patients in its planned and ongoing clinical trials; unplanned cash requirements and expenditures; competitive factors; Arsanis' ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for any product candidates it is developing; Arsanis' ability to maintain key collaborations; and general economic and market conditions. These and other risks are described in greater detail under the caption "Risk Factors" included in Arsanis' public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Arsanis expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.