Roche and Rona Therapeutics, a Santa Barbara, California-based clinical-stage bio/pharmaceutical company specializing in RNAi therapeutics, have entered an agreement under which Roche has been granted an exclusive worldwide license for Rona’s investigational RNAi candidate for obesity and metabolic diseases, in a deal worth up to $1.16 billion ($100 million upfront and $1.06 billion in potential milestone payments). 

The RNAi candidate targets activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7), a target for obesity and metabolic diseases using the company’s proprietary extrahepatic delivery platform. ALK7, encoded by the ACVR1C gene, is predominantly expressed in adipose tissue. ALK7 inhibition acts directly on adipose tissue biology. This mechanism creates the potential for ALK7-targeted therapies to be used independently or in combination with established obesity treatments, such as incretins.  

Under the agreement, Rona will receive upfront and near-term milestone payments of up to $100 million and is eligible to receive up to $1.06 billion in potential development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on global net sales. 

Source: Rona Therapeutics