Lilly will hold exclusive commercialisation rights for any products resulting from the research partnership
Lilly signs saRNA research deal with UK-based MiNA Therapeutics. (Credit: Tumisu from Pixabay)
Eli Lilly and Company has entered into a global research collaboration with UK-based RNA activation therapeutics pioneer MiNA Therapeutics to develop novel drug candidates leveraging the latter’s small activating RNA (saRNA) technology platform.
Under the agreement, the UK-based firm will use its saRNA platform to research up to five targets, chosen by Lilly, which aim to address diseases across Lilly’s therapeutic focus areas.
Small activating RNA therapeutics are said to be a new class of medicines that can restore normal function to patients’ cells by harnessing innate mechanisms of gene activation.
Lilly will be responsible for the preclinical and clinical development of candidates. Furthermore, it will hold exclusive commercialisation rights for any products resulting from the research partnership.
Lilly new therapeutic modalities vice president Andrew Adams said: “Small activating RNAs are a promising new technology, which will expand the breadth of Lilly’s RNA therapeutics platform and the targets we can pursue.
“We are excited about the potential of combining MiNA’s leading saRNA platform and our expertise in new modalities to accelerate development of RNA-based medicines in areas of high unmet medical need.”
MiNA will receive an upfront payment of $25m and is eligible to receive potential development and commercialisation milestones up to a total of $245m per target in addition to the tiered royalties from the low-single to low-double digits on product sales as part of the collaboration.
MiNA Therapeutics CEO Robert Habib said: “This collaboration with Lilly is an important validation of our saRNA platform.
“Lilly’s expertise in the field of RNA therapeutics and clinical development will greatly enhance our efforts to realise the technology’s full potential.
“Together, we aim to unlock new targets in multiple therapeutic areas and to ultimately move them towards clinical development and commercialisation.”
Lilly stated that its 2021 non-GAAP earnings per share guidance will not be changed as a result of the transaction.