Bayer and NextRNA Therapeutics have announced a collaboration and license agreement worth $547m to develop small molecule therapeutics against a new class of targets in oncology.
The partnership will see the companies work together to advance two long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-targeting programmes in “high unmet need indications”.
This includes a lncRNA-targeting small molecule programme currently in early preclinical development at NextRNA, with the second set to focus on a target chosen by Bayer from options already identified by lncRNA’s platform.
The biotech’s proprietary technology combines its computational engine NextMap with “deep” lncRNA biology expertise and a “diverse set” of biochemical, biophysics and chemistry capabilities, according to the companies.
Under the terms of the agreement, which will also give Bayer access to NextRNA’s differentiated approach, NextRNA will receive up to $547m for both programmes, including upfront and near-term milestone payments, research funding, and development and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on future net sales.
Juergen Eckhardt, head of business development and licensing at Bayer’s pharmaceuticals division, said: “With NextRNA’s exceptional expertise and lncRNA platform, we aim to advance novel small molecule therapeutics against a new class of targets in oncology.”
Beyond oncology, lncRNAs represent a new class of therapeutic targets across disease areas including neuroscience.
Dominique Verhelle, NextRNA’s co-founder and chief executive officer, said: “This collaboration recognises lncRNAs as an exciting target class… We look forward to working closely with the Bayer team to advance first-in-class cancer therapies while continuing to build our pipeline in oncology and neuroscience.”
The deal comes five months after Bayer entered into a licensing agreement with BridgeBio Pharma to gain an exclusive licence to commercialise acoramidis as a treatment for patients living with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy in Europe.
BridgeBio announced positive results from a late-stage study of the candidate last year, with the ATTRibute-CM trial meeting its primary endpoint and the drug found to be well tolerated.
Eckhardt said at the time of the March announcement: “… we will work to make this new treatment available to patients as soon as possible, after a positive decision by the European authorities.”