BOSTON, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ikena Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: IKNA, “Ikena,” the “Company”) today announced that Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) and Glass, Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”) recommend that stockholders vote FOR the issuance of shares in connection with the previously disclosed proposed merger with Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals (“Inmagene”) at Ikena’s upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders on July 15, 2025.
ISS and Glass Lewis are leading U.S. institutional voting advisory services that regularly publish analyses on public shareholder votes. Inmagene is a privately held, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing IMG-007, a nondepleting anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody (mAb) engineered to have a silenced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) function to minimize potential safety risks, and a prolonged half-life to enable potentially less frequent dosing regimens.
“We believe IMG-007 has notable potential to build value for shareholders across the I&I space. With the recent progress the company made treating the first patients in the global Phase 2B study in atopic dermatitis, and the advancements and opportunities that we are seeing broadly across I&I, the Ikena Board is encouraged and remains committed to the merger with Inmagene,” commented Mark Manfredi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Ikena.
The issuance of shares in connection with the merger is covered through “PROPOSAL 1” in the proxy vote. There are an additional six proposals related to both the merger and customary proposals included in connection with Ikena’s annual meeting. All votes are important. All stockholders as of the record date, May 22, 2025, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on July 15, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, virtually at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IKNA2025, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. If you are a stockholder as of the record date, you can, and we encourage you to, cast your vote prior to the meeting using your stockholder control number at www.proxyvote.com.
About Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals
Inmagene is a global clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics for immunological and inflammatory (I&I) diseases. The company’s highly differentiated clinical-stage pipeline has multiple candidates with best-in-class potential. The lead asset IMG-007, a nondepleting anti-OX40 mAb, recently completed a Phase 2a clinical trial in atopic dermatitis. For more information, please visit www.inmagenebio.com.
About Ikena Oncology
Ikena Oncology® historically develops differentiated therapies for patients in need that target nodes of cancer growth, spread, and therapeutic resistance. Ikena aims to utilize its depth of institutional knowledge and breadth of tools to efficiently develop the right drug using the right modality for the right patient. To learn more, visit www.ikenaoncology.com.
About IMG-007
IMG-007 is a humanized anti-OX40 IgG1 mAb, with a silenced ADCC function and an extended half-life. The OX40-OX40L axis is important in T cell activation, expansion, and survival, thereby playing an important role in the pathogenesis of a spectrum of I&I diseases. In nonclinical studies, IMG-007 potently blocked the signaling between OX40 and OX40L. IMG-007’s SC formulation has demonstrated a half-life of 34.7 days, which would enable the potential for competitive dose regimens, such as potentially Q24W dosing in the maintenance phase for atopic dermatitis treatment. In a recently completed Phase 2a trial in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, IMG-007 demonstrated marked and durable clinical activity and well-tolerated safety profile.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, express or implied statements regarding the structure, timing and completion of the proposed Merger; the potential to build value for shareholders or that the completion of the Merger will crease shareholder value; any implication that the proposals for approval at Ikena’s annual meeting will be approved; the combined company’s listing on Nasdaq after the closing of the Merger; the anticipated timing of the closing of the Merger; the future operations of the combined company; the nature, strategy and focus of the combined company; the development and commercial potential and potential benefits of any product candidates or platform technologies of the combined company; anticipated preclinical and clinical drug development activities and related timelines, including the expected timing for data and other clinical results; and other statements that are not historical fact. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date they were first issued, and were based on the then-current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections, as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Ikena, Inmagene, the combined company if the proposals related to the Merger are approved or the proposed transactions herein will be those that have been anticipated.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond Ikena’s control. Ikena’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to (i) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the Merger are not satisfied, including the failure to timely obtain stockholder approval of the stock issuance in connection with the Merger and the concurrent financing and the transactions contemplated thereby, if at all; (ii) uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the proposed Merger and the ability of each of Ikena and Inmagene to consummate the proposed Merger; (iii) risks related to Ikena’s ability to manage its operating expenses and its expenses associated with the proposed Merger pending the closing of the Merger; (iv) the risk that as a result of adjustments to the exchange ratio, Ikena stockholders and Inmagene shareholders could own more or less of the combined company than is currently anticipated; (v) risks related to the market price of Ikena common stock relative to the value suggested by the exchange ratio; (vi) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transaction; (vii) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed Merger; (viii) the uncertainties associated with Inmagene’s platform technologies, as well as risks associated with the clinical development and regulatory approval of product candidates, including potential delays in the commencement, enrollment and completion of clinical trials; (ix) risks related to the inability of the combined company to obtain sufficient additional capital to continue to advance these product candidates and its preclinical programs; (x) uncertainties in obtaining successful clinical results for product candidates and unexpected costs that may result therefrom; (xi) risks related to the failure to realize any value from product candidates and preclinical programs being developed and anticipated to be developed in light of inherent risks and difficulties involved in successfully bringing product candidates to market; (xii) risks associated with the possible failure to realize certain anticipated benefits of the proposed Merger, including with respect to future financial and operating results and to increase stockholder value; (xiii) risks associated with Ikena’s financial close process, (xiv) the risk that the Ikena concurrent financing is not consummated; (xv) the potential for the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance or condition that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement and any agreements entered into in connection therewith; and (xvi) the possibility that contingent value rights holders of Ikena and contingent value rights holders of Inmagene may never receive any proceeds pursuant to the Ikena contingent value rights agreement and Inmagene contingent value rights agreement. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in Ikena’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, Ikena’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, and in the Form S-4 and joint proxy statement/prospectus (each, as defined below). You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the forward-looking statements. Ikena expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. This press release does not purport to summarize all of the conditions, risks and other attributes of an investment in Ikena or Inmagene.
Participants in the Solicitation
This press release may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the previously announced proposed merger involving Ikena and Inmagene. In connection with the proposed transactions, Ikena has filed and will file relevant materials with the SEC, including the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-285881) (the “S-4”), initially filed by Ikena with the SEC on March 18, 2025, and declared effective on June 11, 2025, which contains a proxy statement and prospectus (the “proxy statement/prospectus”). This communication is not a substitute for the Form S-4, the proxy statement/prospectus or for any other document that Ikena may file with the SEC or send to Ikena’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions. Ikena, Inmagene, and their respective directors and certain of their executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies from Ikena’s stockholders with respect to the proposed transactions under the rules of the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Ikena is set forth in the Form S-4, and in subsequent documents filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the persons who may be deemed participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the Form S-4, the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described below. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF IKENA ARE URGED TO READ THE FORM S-4, THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT IKENA, INMAGENE, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS AND RELATED MATTERS.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor a solicitation of any vote or approval with respect to the proposed Merger or otherwise. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Form S-4, the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Ikena with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by Ikena with the SEC will also be available free of charge on Ikena’s website at www.ikenaoncology.com, or by contacting Ikena’s Investor Relations at rcohen@ikenaoncology.com.
Ikena Contact:
Rebecca Cohen
rcohen@ikenaoncology.com
