Vect-Horus Enters Exclusive License Agreement with Ionis Pharmaceuticals to Advance Systemic Delivery of RNA-Targeted Medicines for Neurological Diseases
- Global license agreement with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Vect-Horus to receive a double-digit million-dollar upfront payment
- Vect-Horus eligible for development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments
- Vect-Horus to receive tiered single digit royalties on annual product sales
- None.
The licensing agreement between Vect-Horus and Ionis Pharmaceuticals marks a significant collaboration within the biotechnology sector, specifically in the realm of RNA-targeted therapeutics. The ability to transport therapeutic molecules across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using Vect-Horus' VECTrans platform is a critical technological advancement. The BBB is a highly selective permeable border that separates the circulating blood from the brain's extracellular fluid in the central nervous system, making it a formidable obstacle in drug delivery for neurological conditions.
The financial terms of the agreement, including the upfront payment and potential for milestone payments and royalties, indicate a substantial investment by Ionis in Vect-Horus' technology. This could have long-term financial implications depending on the success of the developed therapeutics and their market penetration, particularly in the treatment of rare and common neurological diseases. The focus on systemic delivery of RNA-targeted therapeutics is indicative of a strategic move to address a wider range of CNS conditions, potentially leading to an expanded market share for Ionis.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals' strategic licensing of Vect-Horus' technology could be seen as an attempt to solidify its position in the neurology drug market, which is experiencing a surge in demand due to the global increase in neurological disorders. By partnering with Vect-Horus, Ionis is poised to enhance its drug delivery capabilities, which is a competitive advantage in developing treatments for diseases that are currently difficult to manage due to the challenges of crossing the BBB.
The deal could influence Ionis' stock market performance, as investors often respond positively to advancements that promise to address unmet medical needs. The specificity of the agreement to certain targets, with the option to expand, provides Ionis with flexibility and potential for growth. However, the success of this collaboration will hinge on clinical outcomes, regulatory approvals and the ability to bring these therapies to market effectively.
The partnership between Vect-Horus and Ionis is a testament to the evolving landscape of neurological research where targeted delivery systems like VECTrans are becoming essential. The ability to cross the blood-brain barrier is a significant hurdle in the development of effective CNS therapeutics. Vect-Horus' platform potentially enables the delivery of RNA-targeted medicines to the brain, which could revolutionize the treatment of neurological diseases that have been traditionally challenging to treat due to the restrictive nature of the BBB.
This collaboration could accelerate the development of innovative treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis. The success of these therapies in clinical trials could have profound implications for patients, potentially improving outcomes and quality of life for those afflicted by these debilitating diseases.
Under the terms of the agreement, Vect-Horus will receive a double-digit million-dollar upfront payment. Vect-Horus will be eligible to receive development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments and tiered single digit royalties on annual product sales.
“We are extremely pleased to partner with Ionis, a pioneer in RNA-targeted medicines, to tackle one of the toughest problems in RNA therapeutics, systemic delivery of therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier,” said Alexandre Tokay co-founder and CEO of Vect-Horus. “This license is aligned with our strategy of using our technology to deliver drug payloads, such as RNA-targeted therapeutics, to the brain and other tissues. We hope that combining our technology with Ionis’ industry-leading RNA-targeted drug platform will enable the creation of innovative medicines for a variety of neurological diseases.”
"With a proven track record of delivering first-in-class disease modifying medicines for serious neurological diseases, we believe we are well positioned to tackle the next frontier of delivery of neurology medicines across the blood-brain barrier," said Eric E. Swayze, Ph.D., Ionis' executive vice president of research. "Vect-Horus’ promising technology represents a strategic addition to our industry-leading RNA technologies, providing us with the potential to bring systemically-delivered medicines to patients in need of treatment options across both rare and common neurological diseases.”
About Vect-Horus
Vect-Horus designs and develops vectors that facilitate targeting and delivery of therapeutic or imaging agents to organs, including the brain and tumors. Founded in 2005, Vect-Horus is a spin-off of the Institute for Neurophysiopathology (INP, UMR7051, CNRS and Aix Marseille University), formerly headed by Dr Michel Khrestchatisky, co-founder of the company. Vect-Horus has 38 employees (most in R&D).
To learn more about Vect-Horus, visit www.vect-horus.com.
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