Alnylam and Regeneron unveil RNAi partnership
Pharmaceutical companies Alnylam and Regeneron will collaborate on the development and commercialisation of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics.
RNA is a molecule which is essential to genes and all known forms of life. The new partnership will focus on how RNAi, or methods of regulating the molecule, can be used to treat diseases of the eye and central nervous system (CNS).
According to a press release issued yesterday, April 8, Alnylam will contribute to the discovery of RNAi therapeutics for eye and CNS diseases in collaboration with Regeneron.
Regeneron will then lead the development and commercialisation of eye-focused therapeutics, with Alnylam entitled to potential milestone and royalty payments.
Meanwhile, the two companies will “jointly advance and alternate leadership on CNS programmes”.
Although ocular and CNS diseases are the primary focus of the partnership, the deal will also see the two companies work on a select number of programmes targeting genes expressed in the liver.
George Yancopolous, president and chief scientific officer at Regeneron, said the collaboration would combine both proven and emerging RNAi technology with his company’s “world-leading genetics research and target discovery engines”.
John Maraganore, Alnylam CEO, said that the collaboration would form an “industry-leading alliance” which would help realise RNAi therapeutics as “potentially transformative medicines for ocular and CNS diseases”.
“Importantly, the alliance structure enables Alnylam to continue to build its industry-leading pipeline of RNAi therapeutics while retaining significant product rights”, he added.
As part of the deal, Regeneron will make an upfront payment of $400 million to Alnylam, and purchase $400 million of Alnylam equity at a price of $90 per share.
Alnylam will be eligible to receive up to $200 million in additional milestone payments depending on “certain criteria” during the eye and CNS programmes’ clinical development.
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