The dark matter of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is shades brighter, after the signing of two major deals between biotech pioneers and big pharma in the past week. Haya Therapeutics SA announced Sept. 4 that it has sealed a multiyear agreement with Eli Lilly and Co. to apply its lncRNA platform technology to identify targets in obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Adcendo ApS and Multitude Therapeutics Inc. have signed a licensing agreement for the development of a highly differentiated antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting tissue factor, designated ADCE-T02.
China’s Genor Biopharma Co. Ltd. agreed to out-license GB-261, its bispecific antibody candidate primarily targeting B-cell lymphomas, to TRC 2004 Inc., a U.S.-based newco co-founded by Third Rock Ventures LLC and Two River Group Holdings LLC.
Big pharma continues to invest heavily into molecular glue degraders. The latest deal has Eisai Co. Ltd. striking up a research collaboration that could bring Seed Therapeutics Inc. up to $1.5 billion in up-front and milestone payments. The two said they plan to discover, develop and commercialize MGDs for several undisclosed neurodegeneration and oncology targets.
GSK plc and Flagship Pioneering Inc. have entered a collaboration to discover and develop a portfolio of therapeutics and vaccines for respiratory and immunology indications.
Abbvie Inc. and Futuregen Biopharmaceutical (Beijing) Co. Ltd. have signed a license agreement to develop FG-M701, a next-generation TL1A antibody for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Shionogi & Co. Ltd. has entered into an option agreement with Cilcare Dev SAS to acquire the exclusive license for the global development, manufacturing and commercialization of hearing loss treatment drug candidates CIL-001 and/or CIL-003.
NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd. has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Aexon Labs Inc. granting NLS the opportunity to acquire global development and commercialization rights to Aexon’s next-generation nonsulfonamide dual orexin receptor agonists platform.
Everzom SAS, a CNRS/Université Paris Cité spin-off, has signed a second exclusive license agreement with Erganeo SAS for the development of Evergel, an exosome drug candidate for fistulas and fibrosis of the digestive tract.