Celanese and Secarna Pharmaceuticals Enter into RNA Research Collaboration for Long-Acting Antisense Therapies
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The collaboration between Celanese Corporation and Secarna Pharmaceuticals represents a significant step forward in the field of antisense therapy. By combining Celanese's VitalDose Drug Delivery Platform with Secarna's expertise in antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), this partnership aims to address a critical issue in the administration of ASO therapies: the need for frequent dosing. The development of ASO-eluting implants could revolutionize the patient experience by reducing dosing frequency, thereby enhancing compliance and potentially improving clinical outcomes.
From a pharmaceutical development perspective, the ability to control drug release over an extended period is a game-changer. It not only improves patient convenience but also ensures a consistent therapeutic level of the drug in the system. This controlled release is particularly beneficial for diseases that require long-term management. If successful, this technology could be applied to a range of indications, potentially opening up new markets and therapeutic areas for both companies.
Investors and stakeholders in the biotech sector should pay attention to this partnership as it reflects a growing trend towards patient-centric drug delivery systems. The use of long-acting implants for ASO delivery is a strategic move to differentiate in a competitive market. For Celanese, this venture into the biopharmaceutical space could diversify its portfolio and drive growth. Secarna, on the other hand, could leverage this technology to enhance the efficacy and marketability of its ASO therapies.
Market acceptance of such innovations depends on regulatory approval and demonstration of safety and efficacy in clinical trials. However, the potential to reduce treatment burden and improve targeting can position these companies as leaders in the antisense therapy market. This could attract investment and partnerships and potentially lead to an increase in stock value contingent upon successful development and clinical results.
For a medical device like the proposed ASO-eluting implant, regulatory approval is a critical hurdle. The collaboration's focus on using Celanese's already-approved VitalDose technology for the controlled release of drugs is a strategic move that might streamline the regulatory process. However, combining it with Secarna's ASO platform will still require thorough examination by regulatory bodies like the FDA and EMA.
Given the stringent regulations governing both pharmaceuticals and medical devices, the development timeline for these implants could be lengthy. Successful approval will depend on demonstrating a favorable risk-benefit profile, including minimizing off-target immune responses. If the implants can show improved safety and efficacy over existing treatments, it could significantly impact the standard of care in treating various diseases.
ASOs are synthetic molecules designed to target specific messenger RNA to prevent the production of proteins implicated in the progression of a wide range of diseases including cardiometabolic, central nervous system, oncological and rare diseases. Antisense therapy is an innovative, commercially-validated therapeutic approach, but often requires frequent administration or the delivery of large doses to achieve uptake at the intended site of action, ultimately causing a high treatment burden for patients.
The Celanese VitalDose® Drug Delivery Platform and Secarna’s proprietary ASO Drug Discovery and Development Platform will be used to develop ASO-eluting implants, which have the potential to lessen the dosing frequency, minimize off-target immune responses and improve targeting to provide better patient outcomes for a range of indications. The VitalDose® Drug Delivery Platform provides reliable, controlled-release performance and has a long history of use in approved parenteral drug products in
“Collaborating with Secarna allows us to develop an innovative implant that has the potential to significantly change the way disease-modifying ASO therapies are administered,” said Cyonna Holmes, global business strategy leader for Ophthalmology and RNA at Celanese. “Our team is excited to use our unique Drug Delivery Platform and expertise to help address the growing need for patient-centric, targeted solutions for ASO therapies alongside Secarna.”
Secarna’s proprietary ASO Drug Development and Discovery Platform enables the company to discover novel therapies for targets that are difficult to reach therapeutically with conventional approaches. With several high value and innovative programs, Secarna has validated its platform in various indications such as cardiometabolic, immune-oncology, fibrotic/inflammatory diseases and the central nervous system.
“We are looking forward to partnering with Celanese to combine our industry-leading ASO platform with their VitalDose® drug delivery technology,” said Konstantin Petropoulos, CBO of Secarna Pharmaceuticals. “Together we see the potential to enhance the way our targeted ASO therapies are delivered which ultimately serves our shared goal: to make highly specific, potent, safe and convenient therapeutic options available for patients who urgently need them.”
Scientists at the Celanese Development & Feasibility Lab will independently conduct portions of the planned research in a dedicated pharmaceutical facility. For more information on Celanese VitalDose® technology, visit www.vitaldose.com.
About Celanese
Celanese is a global leader in chemistry, producing specialty material solutions used across most major industries and consumer applications. Our businesses use our chemistry, technology and commercial expertise to create value for our customers, employees and shareholders. We are committed to sustainability by responsibly managing the materials we create for their entire lifecycle and are growing our portfolio of sustainable products to meet increasing customer and societal demand. We strive to make a positive impact in our communities and foster inclusivity across our teams. Celanese is a Fortune 500 company that employs approximately 12,400 employees worldwide with 2023 net sales of
About Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG
Secarna Pharmaceuticals is the leading independent European next-generation antisense drug discovery and development company addressing high unmet medical needs in immuno-oncology and immunology, as well as viral, neurodegenerative and cardiometabolic diseases. Secarna’s mission is to maximize the performance and output of its proprietary antisense oligonucleotide discovery and development platform to generate highly specific, safe, and efficacious best-in-class antisense therapies. With over 20 discovery and development programs, including both proprietary pipeline projects and partnered programs, Secarna focuses on targets in indications where antisense-based approaches have clear potential benefits over other therapeutic modalities. www.secarna.com.
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Investor Relations
Brandon Ayache
+1 972 443 8509
brandon.ayache@celanese.com
Media Relations – Global
Brian Bianco
+1 972 443 4400
media@celanese.com
Secarna Contacts:
Alexander Gebauer, MD PhD
+49 89 215 46 375
Alexander.gebauer@secarna.com
For media inquiries
Anne Hennecke/Vera Lang
+49 211 529 252 15
secarna@mc-services.eu
Source: Celanese Corporation
FAQ
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