Envisagenics has entered a multi-year research collaboration and option agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim to validate tumor-specific targets derived from alternative RNA splicing for potential precision cancer therapies.
Envisagenics is eligible to receive more than $1 billion under the agreement, including an upfront payment, research funding, option fees and potential development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments. It could also receive royalties on future product sales. The companies did not disclose the upfront payment, research funding amount, option fees, milestone allocations or royalty rates.
The collaboration will focus on selected cancer targets previously identified through Envisagenics’ SpliceCore platform. Boehringer Ingelheim will evaluate their therapeutic potential for solid tumors and may apply them across antibody-drug conjugates, T-cell engagers and multispecific antibodies.
After the research program is completed successfully, Boehringer Ingelheim will have the option to obtain exclusive licenses to selected targets for further development and commercialization.
Alternative RNA splicing is a biological process through which a single gene can generate different RNA and protein forms. The process is frequently dysregulated in cancer and can create tumor-specific protein isoforms that may serve as therapeutic targets.
Envisagenics said its SpliceCore platform combines artificial intelligence, transcriptomic data and experimental validation to identify and prioritize RNA-splicing-derived targets. The platform screens more than 14 million distinct splicing events and is designed to assess disease specificity, prevalence among patients and therapeutic suitability.
The company said its oncology work includes targets for antibody-drug conjugates, T-cell engagers, multispecific antibodies and radioligand therapies. Envisagenics is also developing ENV-375, a late-stage preclinical antisense oligonucleotide program for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Boehringer Ingelheim’s role in the agreement will center on validating targets and determining whether to exercise options for exclusive development and commercialization rights.
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