Eli Lilly and Dicerna Launch $3.7B RNAi Collaboration to Advance Novel Therapeutics in Cardiometabolic, Neurodegenerative, and Pain Disorders

Recently, VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) learned from foreign media sources that Eli Lilly and Company, a global leading pharmaceutical company, and Dicerna Pharmaceuticals have announced a collaboration. The two companies will leverage Dicerna’s proprietary GalXC™ RNAi technology platform to focus on the discovery of potential new drugs in the fields of cardiometabolic diseases, neurodegeneration, and pain, and to advance new drug targets into clinical development and commercialization.

RNA interference (RNAi) is an emerging approach to drug discovery, primarily focused on the biological process by which specific RNA molecules inhibit the expression of disease-causing genes by degrading their messenger RNA (mRNA). Research indicates that RNAi acts at an early stage in gene silencing by targeting mRNA—the instructional blueprint for protein synthesis. By binding to these transcripts, RNAi can neutralize virtually any target, including pathogenic genes that are inaccessible to conventional antibody and small-molecule therapies. Furthermore, RNAi-based therapeutics offer greater patient convenience through infrequent dosing regimens and sustained therapeutic effects.

Image from the official website of Dicerna Pharmaceuticals

Regarding this collaboration, Daniel M. Skovronsky, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Eli Lilly and Company, stated, “We are delighted to partner with Dicerna to leverage their RNAi expertise in tackling targets that have thus far proven to be highly technically challenging. Together, we will harness this emerging technology to strive for greater success in drug development.”

“Our collaboration with Eli Lilly provides an excellent opportunity to more efficiently leverage our proprietary GalXC platform to develop novel therapeutics for cardiometabolic diseases and establish a foothold in new areas, including neurodegeneration and pain. Eli Lilly is a leader in these fields and is the ideal partner to expand the scope of Dicerna’s proprietary GalXC technology research, development, and business operations,” said Douglas M. Fambrough, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dicerna, in a statement.

The two companies are expected to collaborate on more than ten targets. Under the terms of the agreement, Dicerna will receive a $100 million upfront payment from Eli Lilly, as well as a $100 million premium equity investment. In addition, Dicerna will receive approximately $350 million from Eli Lilly to support drug development and commercialization, along with tiered royalties on product sales. Through this collaboration, Dicerna is projected to secure total funding and revenue exceeding $3.7 billion.

Eli Lilly and Company was founded by pharmacist Eli Lilly on May 10, 1876, and has a history spanning more than 130 years. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, the company employs over 40,000 people worldwide, with more than 7,400 dedicated to pharmaceutical research and development. It conducts clinical trials in over 50 countries, operates R&D centers in 8 countries, maintains manufacturing facilities in 13 countries, and markets its products in 143 countries and regions.

Dicerna was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts. It is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative therapies for rare genetic disorders. Currently, the company is focused on developing RNAi therapeutics for the treatment of rare diseases, viral infectious diseases, chronic liver diseases, and cardiovascular diseases.