Roche and Flare Therapeutics have entered into an agreement worth over $1.8bn to discover small molecule treatments aimed at previously undrugged transcription factor (TF) targets in oncology.
The strategic discovery collaboration centres around Flare’s proteomic and mass spectrometry platform powered by its proprietary library of electrophilic compounds.
Approximately 1,600 TFs, DNA-binding proteins that can activate or repress DNA transcription, are in the human genome.
They have long been aspirational targets of drug developers due to their central role in cancer and other diseases. However, less than 1% of TFs have been successfully targeted for therapeutics.
Flare’s integrated discovery engine brings together genetic, biochemical and chemical insights to reveal druggable pockets and identify small molecule ligands capable of modulating TFs of high therapeutic potential.
Boris Zaïtra, head of Roche corporate business development, said: “We are excited to join forces with Flare Therapeutics, combining our… expertise and global reach in oncology with Flare Therapeutics’ deep knowledge in drug discovery for difficult-to-drug TF targets.
“TFs play a crucial role in various oncological diseases and have the potential to address high unmet medical needs. We are looking forward to developing therapeutic options never possible before.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Flare will lead discovery and preclinical activities, while Roche will take on further preclinical and clinical development and commercialisation of potential products resulting from the collaboration.
In exchange, Flare will receive an upfront cash payment of $70m and will be eligible for discovery, development and commercialisation milestone payments potentially exceeding $1.8bn, as well as royalties.
Flare will also have the right to co-fund development for one target under the collaboration in exchange for increased royalties in the US for the product.
Rob Sims, Flare’s chief scientific officer and co-founder, said: “This collaboration will accelerate the expansion of our capabilities, enabling us to develop treatments for TFs implicated in indications with high unmet needs.
“Together with Roche’s expertise, our objective is to successfully pursue challenging TF targets, with the ultimate goal of providing novel interventions for patients who are not currently served by standard-of-care therapies.”