Agreement targets RNAi therapy with a unique mechanism that distinguishes itself in the increasingly crowded incretin therapy landscape for obesity and metabolic disease.
Roche is advancing next-generation treatments for metabolic diseases by licensing an investigational, novel RNAi therapy from Rona Therapeutics for up $1.06 billion.
With its differentiated mechanism to incretin-based therapies, which primarily affect appetite and energy intake, ALK7 could potentially address adipose tissue biology by selectively reducing visceral and other ectopic fat depots while preserving lean mass.
Boris Zaïtra, Head of Corporate Business Development at Roche said: “We are excited to partner with Rona Therapeutics, complementing our robust [cardiovascular, renal and metabolic] (CVRM) pipeline and reinforcing our commitment to delivering next-generation metabolic therapies.”
We are excited to partner with Rona Therapeutics, complementing our robust CVRM pipeline and reinforcing our commitment to delivering next-generation metabolic therapies”
Boris Zaïtra, Head of Corporate Business Development at Roche
As part of their agreement, Roche will pay Rona up to $100 million in upfront and milestone payments, as well as royalties.
Stella Shi, CEO and Founder of Rona Therapeutics added: “Obesity is a complex chronic disease with significant unmet medical needs for new mechanisms that can improve the quality and durability of weight loss.
“ALK7 is a compelling obesity and metabolic disease target with the potential to directly address adipose tissue biology. Rona Therapeutics is committed to discover and develop novel RNAi therapies to benefit patients with obesity and metabolic diseases globally.
“This collaboration combines Rona’s pioneering extrahepatic RNAi R&D platform with Roche’s strong expertise and commitment in global development and commercialisation of medicines for the treatment of obesity and metabolic diseases to bring this important therapeutic candidate to patients.”
As the obesity market grows more competitive, Genentech (part of the Roche Group) has, separate to the current agreement, continued to invest in novel obesity therapeutics. In August, the firm licensed another obesity candidate with a non-incretin mechanism of action, this time in a $2.3 billion deal with Hanmi Pharm.
Meanwhile, fellow market player Novo recently tightened its obesity focus by rebranding its company name in a bid to boost its strategy and enhance its credibility in this rapidly evolving landscape.
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