Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals and Novartis Enter into a Global License and Collaboration Agreement
- Upon closing, Arrowhead will receive an upfront payment of
- Novartis will receive an exclusive worldwide license to ARO-SNCA, Arrowhead’s preclinical stage siRNA therapy for the treatment of synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s Disease, plus additional collaboration targets
“With a robust neuroscience pipeline and clear commitment to neurodegenerative diseases and genetic medicines, Novartis is a compelling partner for Arrowhead in the CNS space,” said Christopher Anzalone, Ph.D., President and CEO at Arrowhead. “Our TRiM™ platform has generated impressive preclinical results demonstrating delivery to CNS, including distribution to deep brain regions, after subcutaneous administration. The potential translation of these results in upcoming clinical trials would represent an important leap forward for neurodegenerative diseases and gene targets in the CNS that have been historically difficult to address. We look forward to working with Novartis to bring ARO-SNCA for the treatment of synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s Disease, into clinical trials as soon as possible and to collaborate on additional programs in the future.”
Fiona Marshall, Ph.D., President of Biomedical Research at Novartis added, “Neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease affect millions of patients worldwide. Novartis aspires to transform the lives of patients and families living with these diseases, by advancing medicines that significantly alter the course of the disease. We believe that one way to effectively target core drivers in Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases requires completely novel approaches to deliver RNA medicines to the brain. We see Arrowhead’s TRiM™ technology as having great potential to achieve the type of widespread and effective delivery in key brain structures that will be necessary to see the full benefit of RNA medicines in neurodegeneration.”
Summary of License and Collaboration Agreement
Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will receive an exclusive worldwide license to research, develop, manufacture, and commercialize ARO-SNCA, a preclinical stage program that utilizes Arrowhead’s TRiM™ platform for subcutaneous administration and delivery to the CNS designed to target the gene that encodes the alpha-synuclein protein as a potential treatment for patients with Parkinson’s Disease, and other synucleinopathies. Novartis will select additional collaboration targets outside of Arrowhead’s current pipeline to be developed using the TRiM™ platform.
For all licensed programs under the agreement, Arrowhead will conduct and complete preclinical research activities necessary to enable a clinical trial application (CTA) filing. Novartis will then assume sole control over development, manufacturing, medical affairs, and commercialization activities.
Summary Financial Terms
Upon closing, Novartis will make a
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and other customary conditions.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is serving as legal advisor to Arrowhead.
About Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.
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Source: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Vince Anzalone, CFA
626-304-3400
ir@arrowheadpharma.com
Investors:
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Brian Ritchie
212-915-2578
britchie@lifesciadvisors.com
Media:
LifeSci Communications, LLC
Kendy Guarinoni, Ph.D.
724-910-9389
kguarinoni@lifescicomms.com
Source: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
