– Roche to gain worldwide license to Dicerna’s novel RNAi therapy currently in Phase 1 –
– Dicerna to receive $200 million up front plus up to $1.47 billion in potential milestone payments related to DCR-HBVS –
– Dicerna to retain option to co-fund pivotal development of DCR-HBVS worldwide and co-promote in U.S. with enhanced royalties –
– Collaboration includes discovery and development of additional therapies targeting multiple additional gene targets implicated in chronic HBV infection –
CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I October 31, 2019 IDicerna™ Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRNA) today announced a research collaboration and licensing agreement with Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) to develop novel therapies for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection using Dicerna’s proprietary GalXC™ RNAi platform technology. The collaboration will focus on worldwide development and commercialization of DCR-HBVS, Dicerna’s investigational therapy in Phase 1 clinical development. The collaboration also includes the discovery and development of therapies targeting multiple additional human and viral genes associated with HBV infection using the technology platforms of both companies.
“Dicerna is excited to collaborate with Roche to realize the full potential of DCR-HBVS and leverage our GalXC platform to target and silence specific genes that contribute to chronic hepatitis B virus infection,” said Douglas M. Fambrough, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Dicerna. “With its deep expertise in HBV and established global infrastructure, Roche is ideally suited to help us accelerate the development and commercialization of DCR-HBVS, pursue a cure for chronic HBV infection, and address this serious global threat to public health.”
“We are excited to engage in a clinical partnership and research collaboration with Dicerna,” said John Young, global head of Infectious Diseases at Roche Pharma Early Research & Development. “This partnership builds upon our existing portfolio and internal expertise and positions us well to develop a best-in-disease therapy to cure chronic HBV infection.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Dicerna will receive $200 million in an initial upfront payment and may be eligible to receive up to an additional $1.47 billion over time for the achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones. In addition, Dicerna may be eligible to receive royalties based on potential product sales of DCR-HBVS. Dicerna retains an option to co-fund pivotal development of DCR-HBVS worldwide, which if exercised, entitles Dicerna to receive enhanced royalties and co-promote products including DCR-HBVS in the U.S.
Dicerna and Roche also agreed to collaborate on the research and development of additional therapies targeting multiple human and viral genes implicated in chronic HBV infection, using technology from both companies, for which Dicerna is eligible to receive additional milestones and royalties on any potential products.
The transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and other customary conditions.
About Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the world’s most common serious liver infection, with more than 292 million patients chronically infected, according to the World Health Organization. Chronic HBV infection, a condition characterized by the presence of the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) for six months or more, claims more than 800,000 lives annually. HBV is also the primary cause of liver cancer (also known as hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC), which is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the world.1
About DCR-HBVS and the DCR-HBVS-101 Clinical Trial
DCR-HBVS is an investigational drug in development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Current therapies for HBV, such as nucleoside analogs, can provide long-term viral suppression if taken continuously, but they rarely lead to long-term functional cures, as measured by the clearance of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and sustained HBV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) suppression in patient plasma or blood. By contrast, DCR-HBVS employs RNA interference to selectively knock down specific genes involved in the creation of HBV messenger RNA (mRNA) and the entry of the virus into liver cells. This approach leads to greater than 99.9% reduction in circulating HBsAg, as observed in mouse models of HBV infection. These data suggest that DCR-HBVS may induce clearance of HBsAg and contribute meaningfully to a functional cure for HBV.
Dicerna is conducting a Phase 1, randomized, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of DCR-HBVS in healthy volunteers (HVs) and in patients with non-cirrhotic chronic HBV infection.
About Dicerna’s GalXC™ RNAi Technology Platform
Dicerna’s proprietary RNA interference (RNAi) technology platform, called GalXC™, aims to advance the development of next-generation RNAi-based therapies designed to silence disease-driving genes in the liver and other body systems. Liver-targeted GalXC-based compounds enable subcutaneous delivery of RNAi therapies that are designed to specifically bind to receptors on liver cells, leading to internalization and access to the RNAi machinery within the cells. The GalXC approach seeks to optimize the activity of the RNAi pathway so that it operates in the most specific and potent fashion. Compounds produced via GalXC are intended to be broadly applicable across multiple therapeutic areas, including both liver and non-liver indications.
About DicernaTMPharmaceuticals, Inc.
Dicerna™ Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a biopharmaceutical company using ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference (RNAi) to develop medicines that silence genes that cause disease. The Company’s proprietary GalXC™ technology is being applied to develop potent, selective, and safe RNAi therapies for treatment of rare diseases, chronic liver diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, pain, and viral infectious disease. Dicerna aims to treat disease by addressing the underlying causes of illness with capabilities that extend beyond the liver to address a broad range of diseases, focusing on target genes where connections between gene and disease are well understood and documented. Dicerna intends to discover, develop, and commercialize novel therapies either on its own or in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners. Dicerna has strategic collaborations with Roche, Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly), Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Alexion), and Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (BI). For more information, please visit www.dicerna.com.
Reference
| 1. | Hepatitis B Foundation. Facts and Figures. 2019. Available at: http://www.hepb.org/what-is-hepatitis-b/what-is-hepb/facts-and-figures/. Accessed on October 30, 2019. |
SOURCE: Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
