Alnylam and Genzyme announce alliance to develop and commercialise RNAi therapeutics in Asia
Oct 23, 2012 (Menafn - M2 EQUITYBITES via COMTEX) --Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc ALNY and Genzyme, a Sanofi company SNY, have formed an exclusive alliance to develop and commercialise RNAi therapeutics targeting transthyretin (TTR) for the treatment of transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR) in Japan and other Asia-Pacific countries, the companies announced on Monday.
Transthyretin (TTR)-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR) is a rare, hereditary, systemic disease caused by mutations in the TTR gene. ATTR damages the nervous system and heart, resulting in a life expectancy of five to 15 years.
The partnership will see Genzyme advance Alnylam's ALN-TTR programmes as breakthrough therapies for patients with ATTR in Japan and in the broader Asian market. Alnylam will maintain all rights to develop and commercialise the therapies in US, Europe and the rest of the world.
Under the terms of the agreement, Genzyme will make an upfront cash payment of USD22.5m to Alnylam. The agreement also includes development milestone payments and tiered royalties expected to yield an effective rate in the mid-teens to mid-twenties on Genzyme's sales of ALN-TTR products in their territory. In addition, each party will be responsible for the development and commercialisation activities in their respective territories.
Alnylam has reportedly recently presented positive clinical results from its ALN-TTR02 Phase I trial. Suppression of TTR, the disease-causing protein in ATTR, was found to be rapid, dose dependent, durable, and specific after just a single dose. Also, the drug was generally safe and well tolerated in this Phase I study.
Also, Alnylam is currently enrolling patients in a Phase II multi-dose study of ALN-TTR02 in ATTR patients and aims to initiate a Phase III pivotal study of ALN-TTR02 by the end of 2013.
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