Roche has formed a research collaboration and licensing agreement with Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, a developer of RNAi medicines, in a deal worth up to $1.67 billion focused on developing treatments for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Under the agreement, Dicerna will receive $200 million in an initial upfront payment and may be eligible to receive up to an additional $1.47 billion over time for the achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones. Under the collaboration, the companies will develop therapies for the treatment of HBV infection using Dicerna’s proprietary GalXC RNAi platform technology. GalXC aims to advance the development of RNAi-based therapies designed to silence disease-driving genes in the liver and other body systems. The collaboration will also focus on worldwide development and commercialization of DCR-HBVS, Dicerna’s investigational therapy for treating HBV infection in Phase 1 clinical development. Dicerna may also be eligible to receive royalties based on potential product sales of DCR-HBVS. Dicerna retains an option to co-fund pivotal development of DCR-HBVS worldwide, which if exercised, entitles Dicerna to receive enhanced royalties and co-promote products, including DCR-HBVS in the US.

The collaboration further 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 is also eligible to receive additional milestones and royalties on any potential products from research and development of therapies targeting multiple human and viral genes implicated in chronic HBV infection.

The transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and other customary conditions.

Source: Dicerna Pharmaceuticals