Eli Lilly (LLY) has reached a research and licensing agreement worth up to $1.2B with SanegeneBio to develop and commercialize RNAi therapeutics for metabolic diseases, the Boston, Massachusetts-based biotech announced on Saturday.
As part of its deal, Lilly (LLY) is set to make an upfront payment and equity investment in SanegeneBio as it takes over IND-enabling studies, clinical development, and commercialization of the RNAi molecules discovered by the biotech.
SanegeneBio is also eligible to receive up to $1.2B in discovery, development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments in addition to tiered royalties on future product sales.
RNAi drugs are a new class of medicines comprising silencing messenger RNA molecules that encode for proteins implicated in disease. Leading developers of RNAi therapeutics include Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR), and Wave Life Sciences (WVE).
SanegeneBio’s LEAD drug delivery platform has the potential to develop injectable RNAi drugs that could lower the treatment burden with biannual dosing, the company said.