Eli Lilly has entered a global licensing and research alliance with to identify, develop and commercialise potential therapies for cardio-metabolic conditions, neurodegeneration and pain.
As part of the deal, Lilly will also buy a $100m equity stake in Dicerna Pharmaceuticals.
The companies will leverage Dicerna鈥檚 GalXC RNAi technology platform to advance new drug targets into clinical development stages. Lilly and Dicerna will further focus on developing novel oligonucleotide therapeutics.
RNA interference (RNAi) for drug discovery is a biological process where select RNA molecules block disease-causing genes expression by killing their messenger RNAs (mRNAs).
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals president and CEO Douglas Fambrough said: 鈥淟illy, with its demonstrated leadership in each of these fields, is an ideal partner for extending the range of Dicerna’s proprietary GalXC technology, which is designed to silence the expression of disease-driving genes.
鈥淲e are eager and ready to expand and advance our pipeline of innovative GalXC-based therapies, including both proprietary and partnered programmes.鈥�
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataThe terms of the agreement include a $100m upfront payment from Lilly to Dicerna, which may also receive potential development and commercialisation milestones worth around $350m per target.
Dicerna is also eligible for tiered royalties on product sales. The companies intend to work on more than ten targets.
Eli Lilly senior vice-president and chief scientific officer Daniel Skovronsky said: 鈥淲e are excited to collaborate with Dicerna and utilise their RNAi expertise to study targets that up until now have proven to be very technically challenging.
鈥淩NAi has the potential to treat an array of diseases that are of strategic importance to Lilly. Together with Dicerna, we aim to employ this emerging modality for greater success in drug development.鈥�
The deal is subject to customary closing conditions and clearances.
