The partnership combines GSK’s expertise in human genetics and genomics with Wave’s proprietary discovery and drug development oligonucleotide platform PRISM
GSK partners with Wave Life to develop oligonucleotide therapeutics for new genetic targets. (Credit: GSK plc)
UK-based pharmaceutical company GSK has signed a discovery collaboration with Wave Life Sciences to develop oligonucleotide therapeutics for new genetic targets.
The four-year strategic collaboration also includes the development of Wave’s preclinical RNA editing programme targeting alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), WVE-006.
The deal combines GSK’s expertise in human genetics and genomics, as well as its global development and commercial capabilities, with Wave’s proprietary discovery and drug development platform, PRISM.
Wave’s PRISM platform is said to be an oligonucleotide platform that offers three RNA-targeting modalities which consist of editing, splicing, and silencing, including siRNA and antisense.
GSK said that these modalities have novel chemistry, including PN backbone chemistry and control of stereochemistry, in order to optimise the pharmacological properties of therapeutic oligonucleotides.
The first part of this collaboration is a discovery partnership that uses Wave’s PRISM platform and GSK’s expertise in genetics to advance up to eight programmes and Wave to advance up to three programmes.
Under the second part, Wave’s WVE-006 preclinical programme for AATD, which makes use of Wave’s patented AIMer technology, is exclusively licenced to GSK.
GSK president and chief scientific officer Tony Wood said: “Oligonucleotide therapeutics are becoming a mainstream modality, and this collaboration will enable us to use our leading position in human genetics and genomics to advance novel oligonucleotide therapies.
“Pairing GSK’s genetic expertise with the best-in-class PRISM platform enables us to accelerate drug discovery for newly-identified targets, by matching target to modality.
“The addition of WVE-006 complements more advanced, clinical-phase oligonucleotides in our pipeline, including bepirovirsen for chronic hepatitis B and GSK4532990 for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).”
According to the terms of the agreement, Wave will get an upfront payment of $170m, which includes a cash payment of $120m and a $50m equity investment.
For the WVE-006 programme, Wave Life Sciences will receive $225m in development and launch milestone payments and up to $300m in sales-related milestone payments.
For GSK’s eight collaboration programmes, Wave will get up to $130-$175m in development and launch milestones and $200m in sales-related milestones, on top of royalties, the UK-based pharmaceutical firm added.
The deal has the option to extend the research term for up to three additional years, expanding the number of programmes available to both firms.