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Print Edition StoriesMonday, January 4, 2010
Dicerna collaborates with Japanese biotech for up to $124M
By Mass High Tech staff
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Dicerna Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Watertown-based RNA interference platform development company, has entered into a research collaboration and licensing deal with Japanese biopharmaceutical firm Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd. for up to $124 million.
The collaboration involves a $4 million upfront cash payment to Dicerna and up to $120 million in further research funding and milestone payments related to drug delivery systems and Dicer Substrate siRNA therapies. According to the two companies, the collaboration may result in a broader drug platform and the development of another 10 new targets. Dicerna may receive royalties on sales of these new targets, in addition to an option to co-promote and profit-share in the U.S. from new targets.
Dicerna is a private, venture-backed company focused on novel RNAi-based drugs and related drug delivery systems built around the enzyme Dicer. he Dicer-related technology for gene silencing may generate drug candidates with greater potency and longer action duration than earlier RNAi approaches, according to Dicerna CEO James Jenson.
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