Bayer and NextRNA Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing transformative medicines to address long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-driven diseases, today announced that they have entered into a collaboration and license agreement to develop small molecule therapeutics targeting lncRNAs in oncology. lncRNAs represent a vast class of therapeutic targets that recruit RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to drive pathological processes across diseases. Disrupting lncRNA-RBP interactions with small molecules represents an innovative approach to develop a new class of therapeutic agents

拜耳和 NextRNA Therapeutics 是一家专注于开发变革性药物以治疗长链非编码 RNA (lncRNA) 驱动疾病的生物技术公司，今天宣布双方已达成合作和许可协议，以开发针对肿瘤学中 lncRNA 的小分子疗法。lncRNA 代表了一大类治疗靶点，它们会募集 RNA 结合蛋白 (RBP) 来驱动各种疾病的病理过程。利用小分子破坏 lncRNA-RBP 相互作用代表了一种开发新一类治疗剂的创新方法。

Bayer and NextRNA will collaborate to jointly advance two oncology programs in high unmet need indications. The first program is a lncRNA-targeting small molecule program currently in early preclinical development at NextRNA. For the second program, NextRNA will prosecute lncRNA targets that its platform has already identified, and Bayer will have the option to select one target for joint development.

拜耳和 NextRNA 将合作共同推进两项针对高未满足需求适应症的肿瘤学项目。第一个项目是针对 lncRNA 的小分子项目，目前 NextRNA 正在进行早期临床前开发。对于第二个项目，NextRNA 将研究其平台已经确定的 lncRNA 靶点，而拜耳将可以选择一个靶点进行联合开发。

“With NextRNA’s exceptional expertise and lncRNA platform, we aim to advance novel small molecule therapeutics against a new class of targets in oncology,” said Juergen Eckhardt, M.D., Head of Business Development and Licensing at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division. “This partnership further adds to our mission to build one of the most transformative and diversified oncology pipelines in the industry.”

拜耳制药部门业务开发和许可主管医学博士 Juergen Eckhardt 表示：“借助 NextRNA 的卓越专业知识和 lncRNA 平台，我们的目标是针对肿瘤学中的一类新靶点开发新型小分子疗法。此次合作进一步增强了我们的使命，即打造业内最具变革性和多元化的肿瘤学产品线之一。”

Under the agreement, Bayer gains access to NextRNA’s differentiated approach to inhibit the function of lncRNAs by disrupting the interaction between lncRNAs and RBPs with small molecules. NextRNA’s proprietary platform combines its computational engine NextMap™ with deep lncRNA biology expertise and a diverse set of biochemical, biophysics, and chemistry capabilities.

根据协议，拜耳将获得 NextRNA 的差异化方法，通过破坏 lncRNA 和 RBP 与小分子之间的相互作用来抑制 lncRNA 的功能。NextRNA 的专有平台将其计算引擎 NextMap™ 与深厚的 lncRNA 生物学专业知识以及多种生物化学、生物物理学和化学功能相结合。

“We are excited to partner with Bayer, a recognized leader in life sciences and oncology innovation,” said Dominique Verhelle, PhD, MBA, NextRNA Co-Founder and CEO. “This collaboration recognizes lncRNAs as an exciting target class and confirms NextRNA’s position as both a leader in this space and a partner-of-choice for companies seeking to develop transformative small molecule therapeutics across disease areas. We look forward to working closely with the Bayer team to advance first-in-class cancer therapies while continuing to build our pipeline in oncology and neuroscience.”

NextRNA 联合创始人兼首席执行官 Dominique Verhelle 博士、MBA 表示：“我们很高兴能与生命科学和肿瘤学创新领域公认的领导者拜耳合作。此次合作将 lncRNA 视为一个令人兴奋的目标类别，并确认了 NextRNA 作为该领域领导者和寻求在疾病领域开发变革性小分子疗法的公司的首选合作伙伴的地位。我们期待与拜耳团队密切合作，推进一流的癌症疗法，同时继续建立我们在肿瘤学和神经科学领域的产品线。”

Under the terms of the agreement, NextRNA will receive up to $547 million for both programs, including upfront and near-term milestone payments, research funding, and development and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on net sales.

根据协议条款，NextRNA 将为两个项目获得高达 5.47 亿美元的资金，包括前期和近期里程碑付款、研究资金、开发和商业里程碑付款，以及净销售额的分级特许权使用费。