In a new $500M+ deal, Bayer and NextRNA Therapeutics will jointly develop two first-in-class small molecule programs targeting long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in cancers. lncRNAs represent a vast class of therapeutic targets that recruit RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to drive pathological processes across diseases. Disrupting lncRNA-RBP interactions with small molecules represents an innovative approach to develop a new class of therapeutic agents.
Approximately 75% of the genome is transcribed into RNAs that do not encode proteins, called non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). A relatively new target for drug development, lncRNAs are RNA transcripts that are longer than 200 nucleotides. By definition, these RNAs must not have open reading frames that encode proteins.
“lncRNAs are a vast class of therapeutic targets that recruit RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to drive pathological processes across diseases. Disrupting lncRNA-RBP interactions with small molecules represents an innovative approach to develop a new class of therapeutic agents,” NextRNA’s press release said.
The biotech’s proprietary computational engine, NextMAP, identifies disease-driving lncRNAs across diseases. They use “deep lncRNA biology expertise and capabilities to validate the lncRNA and the RBP it interacts with to drive the mechanism of action in the disease of interest.” In addition, they can use biochemical, biophysics, and chemistry capabilities to develop functional small molecules inhibiting the function of the lncRNA by disrupting the lncRNA-RBP interaction.
The first program the two companies will collaborate on is a lncRNA-targeting small molecule program currently in early preclinical development at NextRNA. For the second program, NextRNA will select lncRNA targets that its platform has already identified, and Bayer will have the option to select one target for joint development.
“With NextRNA’s exceptional expertise and lncRNA platform, we aim to advance novel small molecule therapeutics against a new class of targets in oncology,” said Juergen Eckhardt, MD, head of business development and licensing at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division. “This partnership further adds to our mission to build one of the most transformative and diversified oncology pipelines in the industry.”
NextRNA’s approach involves inhibiting lncRNAs function by disrupting the interaction between lncRNAs and RBPs with small molecules. The company says its strategy is differentiated in that it offers optionality to target the lncRNA or the RBP side of the interaction.
“We are excited to partner with Bayer, a recognized leader in life sciences and oncology innovation,” said Dominique Verhelle, PhD, NextRNA co-founder and CEO. “This collaboration recognizes lncRNAs as an exciting target class and confirms NextRNA’s position as both a leader in this space and a partner-of-choice for companies seeking to develop transformative small molecule therapeutics across disease areas. We look forward to working closely with the Bayer team to advance first-in-class cancer therapies while continuing to build our pipeline in oncology and neuroscience.”
NextRNA will receive up to $547 million for both programs, including upfront and near-term milestone payments, research funding, and development and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on net sales.
The biotech says, on their website, “lncRNAs are important regulators of processes that can be dysregulated in disease. While our primary focus is on oncology and neuroscience, our proprietary platform and approach ideally position us to unlock the therapeutic value of lncRNAs across disease areas.”
