In the wave of rapid growth in the global biopharmaceutical industry, innovative collaborations and breakthrough achievements have become the key drivers of progress. In 2024, numerous significant events in the oligonucleotide field took place, contributing to its development. Let’s take a look at these partnerships.
Date: January 13, 2024
Details: RiboBio collaborated with German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim to leverage RiboBio’s advanced ribo-galstartm technology platform to jointly develop innovative oligonucleotide therapies for the treatment of non-alcoholic or metabolism-related fatty liver disease (NASH/MASH). RiboBio will receive an upfront payment and will be entitled to milestone payments related to clinical research, drug registration, and commercial success, as well as tiered royalties on product sales. The total transaction value exceeds $2 billion.
Company Introduction: RiboBio is a leading company in oligonucleotide drug development in China, focusing on the research, production, and commercialization of oligonucleotide therapies. It possesses robust R&D capabilities with multiple proprietary technology platforms and a diverse pipeline spanning various disease areas.
Date: January 3, 2024
Details: Agro Pharma partnered with Novartis to utilize its proprietary RNAi technology platform to develop innovative oligonucleotide therapies for cardiovascular diseases. Boat Pharma will receive $185 million in upfront payments and is eligible for additional option and milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties from commercial sales. The deal's total potential value is up to $4.165 billion. Under the agreement, Agro Pharma has granted Novartis exclusive global development and commercialization rights for a Phase I clinical product targeting cardiovascular diseases and potential licenses for up to two additional targets.
Company Introduction: AgroPharma specializes in innovative drug development and has notable achievements in oligonucleotide drug R&D and clinical translation, particularly in cardiovascular disease therapies. Its pipeline includes multiple oligonucleotide drugs in various stages of development, including a late-preclinical drug targeting coronary artery disease and an early-stage exploratory drug for arrhythmias.
Date: June 3, 2024
Details: QurAlis Corporation announced an exclusive license agreement with Eli Lilly, granting global development and commercialization rights for QRL-204. QRL-204 is a potential best-in-class splice-switching antisense oligonucleotide aimed at restoring UNC13A function in ALS, FTD, and other neurodegenerative diseases. QurAlis will receive $45 million in upfront payments, additional equity investment, and up to $577 million in future milestone payments, along with tiered royalties on net sales.
Company Introduction: QurAlis, a U.S.-based clinical-stage biotech company founded in 2016, focuses on developing breakthrough precision medicines for ALS and other genetically validated neurodegenerative diseases. Its proprietary platforms enable the design of drugs targeting pathogenic gene changes.
Date: November 26, 2024
Details: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals and Sarepta Therapeutics entered a global licensing and collaboration agreement covering up to 13 clinical and preclinical programs targeting rare genetic diseases of muscles, the central nervous system (CNS), and the lungs. Arrowhead will receive $825 million, including $500 million in cash and $325 million in equity investments, as well as nearly $300 million in short-term milestone payments for current clinical programs. Over the next five years, Sarepta will pay an additional $250 million in annual $50 million installments. The agreement also includes up to $10 billion in future milestone payments.
Company Introduction: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals has deep technical expertise in oligonucleotide drug development, specializing in innovative treatments for rare diseases. Its pipeline focuses on rare genetic diseases affecting muscles, the CNS, and the lungs, including a Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug in pivotal clinical trials aimed at mitigating muscle atrophy through improved gene expression.
Date: December 30, 2024
Details: Huadong Medicine and SynerK Pharma announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop the angiotensinogen-targeting oligonucleotide candidate drug SNK-2726 for hypertension treatment. Huadong Medicine will have exclusive rights to develop, register, produce, and commercialize SNK-2726 in Greater China.
Company Introduction: Founded in 2021, SynerK Pharma focuses on novel oligonucleotide drug development and clinical research, specializing in RNA-targeting therapies with innovative delivery technologies for liver and extrahepatic organs. Its pipeline includes several first-in-class or best-in-class candidates, such as SNK-2726 for hypertension and SNK-396, China’s first siRNA candidate drug targeting a specific gene, currently in clinical trials.
Looking back at 2024, these collaborations and achievements in the oligonucleotide field not only brought together resources and accelerated the development of innovative therapies but also offered new hope to patients worldwide in overcoming diseases.
