Replicate Bio and Novo Nordisk collaborate on srRNA therapies

Replicate, Novo Nordisk partner to develop srRNA therapies. (Credit: oleschwander/Shutterstock.com) Replicate Bioscience and Novo Nordisk have partnered to develop self-replicating RNA (srRNA) therapies for cardiometabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. The research collaboration combines Replicate’s srRNA technology with Novo Nordisk’s expertise in drug development. Under the terms of the agreement, Novo Nordisk will obtain the global license to leverage Replicate’s srRNA platform to develop and market the lead programmes. Replicate Bioscience will receive up to $550m in research funding from Novo Nordisk, including upfront and milestone payments. Additionally, the US-based biotechnology company will earn tiered royalties on future sales of the therapeutics developed under the collaboration. Novo Nordisk Nucleic Acid Research corporate vice president Karina Thorn said: “Novo Nordisk is continuously looking to build on its leading position in cardiometabolic diseases. “We seek to combine our core capabilities with selected modality platforms to raise the innovation bar to the benefit of people living with serious chronic diseases. “We are excited about this partnership with Replicate, as it allows us to create a new avenue for the development of novel, impactful therapies.” Replicate has developed a broad pipeline of srRNA vaccines and therapeutics, supported by a library of customisable viral vectors. Backed by Apple Tree Partners, the company is leveraging its technology to advance treatments in infectious disease, immunology, and beyond. Its lead asset targets the IL-1 receptor agonist, treating inflammatory diseases such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease, gout, and recurrent pericarditis. The company’s srRNA platform offers enhanced protein expression and durability compared to other RNA technologies. Furthermore, its clinical-stage rabies vaccine, RBI-4000, has shown effective immunity at lower doses in Phase 1 trials. Replicate Bioscience co-founder and CEO Nathaniel Wang said: “We founded Replicate to overcome the limitations of conventional mRNA. “This collaboration reinforces the transformative potential of Replicate’s science and expedites our innovative pipeline of prophylactic vaccines and srRNA-powered therapeutic proteins.” Earlier this year, Novo Nordisk entered an exclusive licence agreement with The United Laboratories’ subsidiary, United Biotechnology, for UBT251. UBT251 is a triple receptor agonist targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon, currently in early-stage clinical development for obesity and type 2 diabetes treatment. Novo Nordisk will obtain worldwide rights to develop and market UBT251, excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.