Dicerna™ Announces Closing of Worldwide Collaboration and Licensing Agreement With Roche for Treatments for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection
LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dicerna™ Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRNA) (the “Company” or “Dicerna”), a leading developer of investigational ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) therapeutics, today announced the successful closing of the research collaboration and licensing agreement between Dicerna and Roche following expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
As previously announced on Oct. 31, 2019, the companies entered into an agreement to develop novel therapies for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection using Dicerna’s proprietary GalXC™ RNAi platform technology. The collaboration will focus on worldwide development and commercialization of DCR-HBVS, Dicerna’s investigational therapy in Phase 1 clinical development, and includes the discovery and development of therapies targeting multiple additional human and viral genes associated with HBV infection using the technology platforms of both companies.
Dicerna will receive an upfront payment of $200 million, which is due early in the first quarter of 2020. Under the terms of the agreement, Dicerna may be eligible to receive up to an additional $1.47 billion over time for the achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones for DCR-HBVS. In addition, Dicerna may be eligible to receive royalties on potential product sales of DCR-HBVS. Dicerna also retains an option to co-fund the development of DCR-HBVS worldwide and, if exercised, would receive enhanced royalties on net sales in the United States. If Dicerna exercises this co-funding option, it shall also have an option to co-promote products including DCR-HBVS in the United States.
Dicerna and Roche also agreed to collaborate on the research and development of additional therapies targeting multiple human and viral genes implicated in chronic HBV infection, using technology from both companies, for which Dicerna is eligible to receive additional milestones and royalties on any potential products.
Mooie deal voor Dicerna!