Canada-based NanoVation Therapeutics has teamed up with Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to develop novel genetic medicines for cardiometabolic and rare diseases.
The collaboration will combine NanoVation’s unique long-circulating lipid nanoparticle (lcLNP) technology with Novo Nordisk’s expertise in cardiometabolic and rare disease R&D.
Under the terms of the agreement, Novo Nordisk and NanoVation will collaborate on two lead programmes to develop base-editing therapies for certain rare genetic diseases.
They will develop up to five additional future targets for cardiometabolic and rare diseases.
Novo Nordisk will obtain a defined exclusive, worldwide licence to use NanoVation’s LNP technology for the two lead programmes.
NanoVation will receive research funding and is eligible to receive up to $600m in up-front and potential milestone payments, along with tiered royalties on future product sales.
NanoVation Therapeutics co-founder and CEO Dominik Witzigmann said: “We founded NanoVation to enable partners to overcome the challenges of conventional nucleic acid delivery systems.
“This agreement with Novo Nordisk and ongoing work with companies in the cell and gene therapy space is validation of the potential of our LNP technologies to enable the next generation of life-changing genetic medicines.”
NanoVation is a biotechnology company developing an extensive and continuously growing library of novel lipids and LNP compositions, to address the barriers of nucleic acid delivery.
The company works together with industry partners, from concept to lead development, to create fit-for-purpose solutions for nucleic acid delivery.
In preclinical studies, NanoVation’s lcLNP technology has shown the ability to deliver nucleic acids to various cell types beyond the liver.
Also, the technology showed improved potency, safety and stability than conventional systems.
NanoVation’s toolbox provides a one-stop-shop portfolio for LNP-based genetic medicine development, for novel lipid design, RNA modification and LNP formulation.
NanoVation co-founder Pieter Cullis said: “By combining NanoVation’s expertise in extrahepatic delivery with Novo Nordisk’s expertise in cardiometabolic and rare diseases we have the potential to create truly transformative therapies.”
Novo Nordisk corporate vice president, research, global nucleic acid therapies head Karina Thorn said: “Every genetic drug has a cargo and delivery component, which require dedicated innovation on both.
“We look forward to partnering with NanoVation, as the company’s differentiated delivery platform could help Novo Nordisk to advance genetic medicine candidates with curative potential.”
