Roche and Alnylam form major alliance on RNAi therapeutics

Roche and the US-based biopharmaceutical company Alnylam Pharmaceuticals have entered into an alliance in which Roche obtains a non-exclusive license to Alnylam's technology platform for developing RNAi (RNA interference) therapeutics.

The alliance will initially cover four therapeutic areas: oncology, respiratory diseases, metabolic diseases and certain liver diseases. Alnylam and Roche also will collaborate on RNAi drug discovery for one or more disease targets in these therapeutic areas. In addition, Roche will acquire Alnylam's European research site located in Kulmbach, Germany, subject to regulatory approval.

This site will become Roche's Center of Excellence for RNAi therapeutics discovery.

Alnylam has granted to Roche a non-exclusive license providing Roche access to broad Alnylam intellectual property (IP) and know-how, including fundamental, chemistry and delivery IP. In addition, Alnylam and Roche will collaborate on one or more disease targets to be identified in the future in exchange for milestone and royalty payments.

The alliance could be valued at over US$1bn in consideration of upfront payments, potential product milestone payments for multiple products and field expansion payments, excluding potential royalties on future sales of commercial products. The close of the agreements, including Roche's purchase of Alnylam shares and purchase of Alnylam's site in Germany, is expected to occur within approximately 30 days.