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Alnylam and Dicerna Form RNAi Therapeutics Collaboration on Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency-Associated Liver Disease and Complete Cross-License Agreement for Primary Hyperoxaluria Programs
Apr 06, 2020
- Dicerna to
- Companies Complete Non-Exclusive Intellectual Property Cross-License Agreement for the Development and Commercialization of Alnylam’s Lumasiran and Dicerna’s Nedosiran Investigational Programs for Primary Hyperoxaluria -
“We are excited to bring our two leading RNAi therapeutics companies together in our efforts to advance potentially transformative medicines for the treatment of two rare diseases with significant unmet medical need. Specifically, the new agreements allow for
“These agreements between
Under the development and commercialization agreement, Alnylam’s ALN-AAT02 and Dicerna’s DCR-A1AT, investigational RNAi therapeutics, each in Phase 1/2 development, will be explored for the treatment of alpha-1 liver disease. Under the agreement, Dicerna assumes responsibility for both ALN-AAT02 and DCR-A1AT at its cost, and may progress one or both of these investigational medicines through clinical development. Dicerna will select which product candidate(s) to advance in development for the treatment of patients with alpha-1 liver disease. At the completion of Phase 3,
In a separate agreement,
The transaction related to alpha-1 liver disease 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.
About ALN-AAT02 and DCR-A1AT
ALN-AAT02 and DCR-A1AT are investigational, subcutaneously administered RNAi therapeutics targeting alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) in development for the treatment of A1AT deficiency-associated liver disease (alpha-1 liver disease). ALN-AAT02 utilizes
About Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency-Associated Liver Disease
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is an autosomal disorder that results in disease of the lungs and liver. A1AT is a liver-produced serine proteinase inhibitor with the primary function of protecting the lungs from neutrophil elastase and other irritants that cause inflammation. About 95 percent of people with A1AT deficiency are homozygous and carry two copies of the abnormal Z allele (PiZZ) which expresses the Z-AAT protein. In the liver, misfolding of the mutant Z-AAT protein hinders its normal release into the blood thereby causing it to aggregate in hepatocytes, leading to liver injury, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There are estimated to be approximately 120,000 individuals with the PiZZ mutation in the
About Lumasiran
Lumasiran is an investigational, subcutaneously administered RNAi therapeutic targeting glycolate oxidase (GO), in development for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1), an ultra-rare life threatening disease. GO is encoded by the hydroxyacid oxidase 1 (HAO1) gene. Thus, by silencing HAO1 and depleting the GO enzyme, lumasiran inhibits production of oxalate – the metabolite that directly contributes to the pathophysiology of PH1. Lumasiran utilizes
About Nedosiran
Nedosiran (formerly referred to as DCR-PHXC) is the only RNAi drug candidate in development for primary hyperoxaluria (PH) types 1, 2 and 3 and is Dicerna’s most advanced product candidate utilizing the proprietary GalXC™ RNAi technology platform. Nedosiran is designed to inhibit the lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) enzyme – an enzyme that catalyzes the final step in a common pathway resulting in oxalate overproduction in patients with PH1, PH2 and PH3. Dicerna is evaluating the safety and efficacy of nedosiran in patients with all known forms of PH as part of its PHYOX clinical development program.
About Primary Hyperoxaluria (PH)
PH is an ultra-rare disease with three known types (PH1, PH2 and PH3), each resulting from a mutation in one of three different genes. In patients with PH, excessive oxalate production results in the deposition of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys and urinary tract and can lead to the formation of painful and recurrent kidney stones and nephrocalcinosis. Renal damage is caused by a combination of tubular toxicity from oxalate, calcium oxalate deposition in the kidneys, and urinary obstruction by calcium oxalate stones. Compromised kidney function exacerbates the disease as the excess oxalate can no longer be effectively excreted, resulting in subsequent accumulation and crystallization in bones, eyes, skin, and heart, especially in patients with PH1 and PH2, leading to severe illness and death. Current treatment options are very limited and include frequent renal dialysis or combined organ transplantation of liver and kidney, a procedure with high morbidity that is limited due to organ availability. Although a minority of patients are fully responsive to Vitamin B6 therapy, there are no approved pharmaceutical therapies for PH.
About RNAi
RNAi (RNA interference) is a natural cellular process of gene silencing that represents one of the most promising and rapidly advancing frontiers in biology and drug development today. Its discovery has been heralded as “a major scientific breakthrough that happens once every decade or so,” and was recognized with the award of the 2006 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. By harnessing the natural biological process of RNAi occurring in our cells, a new class of medicines, known as RNAi therapeutics, is now a reality. Small interfering RNA (siRNA), the molecules that mediate RNAi and comprise Alnylam’s and Dicerna’s RNAi therapeutic platforms, function upstream of today’s medicines by potently silencing messenger RNA (mRNA) – the genetic precursors – that encode for disease-causing proteins, thus preventing them from being made. This is a revolutionary approach with the potential to transform the care of patients with genetic and other diseases.
About
About
Alnylam Forward Looking Statements
Various statements in this release concerning
Dicerna Forward-Looking Statements
Various statements in this release concerning Dicerna’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including, without limitation, Dicerna's views and plans with respect to the potential for RNAi therapeutics, including ALN-AAT02, DCR-A1AT and nedosiran, the development and potential commercialization of ALN-AAT02 and/or DCR-A1AT and the opportunity to accelerate development for patients, expectations regarding future royalties earned from sales of lumasiran or from commercialization of ALN-AAT02 and/or DCR-A1AT outside
GalXC™ and PHYOX™ are trademarks of
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