Date: 2017-08-21
Type of information: Research agreement
Compound: stabilised non-immunogenic modified RNA therapies
Company: AstraZeneca (UK) Ethris (Germany)
Therapeutic area: Rare diseases - Pulmonary diseases - Respiratory diseases - Allergic diseases
Type agreement: research - R&D
Action mechanism:
- mRNA. Messenger RNA is a single-strand of nucleotides that transcribes genetic information found in DNA into a message that can be read by the machinery of a cell and translated into proteins that the body needs to function. So mRNA therapies can deliver genetic instructions to cells which drive the target cells to produce selected proteins to help prevent or fight diseases.
- Historically, mRNA has not been usable as a therapeutic agent because when delivered into the body it activates the immune system and is highly unstable. In addition, in order to be functional, mRNA must enter the target cells of interest by crossing the cell membrane, which requires a carrier system to transport it into the cells.
- Ethris has developed two technology platforms to enable the use of messenger RNA as a therapeutic agent: The Stabilized Non-Immunogenic mRNA (SNIM®RNA) for transcript therapy, as well as proprietary delivery technologies for SNIM® RNA delivery.
- The SNIM® RNA Technology is based on stabilized non-immunogenic mRNA. SNIM® RNA evade the innate immune system due to chemical modifications in their building blocks.
Disease: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Details:
- • On August 21, 2017, Ethris , a mRNA-based company with specific expertise in pulmonary disease, today announced a five-year strategic research collaboration with AstraZeneca and its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune. The collaboration is focused on developing new stabilised non-immunogenic modified RNA therapies for respiratory diseases using Ethris’ proprietary SNIM®RNA technology.
- Ethris will utilize its proprietary SNIM®RNA technology exclusively with AstraZeneca through the company’s MedImmune and Innovative Medicines (IMED) biotech units to develop multiple new targets for investigation in the diseases of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Financial terms:
- Ethris will receive €25 million upfront plus research funding and is eligible for future research and development milestones, including sales related royalties upon commercialisation.
- AstraZeneca and MedImmune will have the option to take exclusive worldwide licenses upon completion of the research plan for each target within the collaboration.
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