Eli Lilly and Company and QurCan Therapeutics have signed an exclusive research and collaboration agreement to develop genetic medicine therapeutics for diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
The companies intend to work together on several research programmes focused on QurCan’s Target-Engineered Responsive Polymer (TERP) polymer-lipid nanoparticle (PLNP) delivery platform development.
QurCan uses its TERP platform to facilitate non-viral delivery of genetic medicines.
The collaboration will see the Canada-based company optimise genetic therapeutics using this technology, with Lilly overseeing further research, clinical development, and commercialisation of selected projects.
QurCan will receive an upfront payment and a strategic investment from Lilly as part of the agreement.
In addition, QurCan is eligible for research support payments, and could receive research, development and commercial milestone payments of up to $237m per programme.
The agreement also includes potential for the company to earn tiered royalties on global net sales of any commercialised products.
QurCan Therapeutics CEO Mohammad Ali Amini said: “This collaboration with Lilly represents a validation of our PLNP technology platform and its potential to address some of the most challenging delivery problems in genetic medicine.
“The CNS and PNS remain among the most underserved areas in genetic medicine delivery, and we believe our non-viral approach offers a differentiated and versatile solution across various nucleotide cargos.
“We are thrilled to work with Lilly, a company with unparalleled expertise in neuroscience drug development and commercialisation, to bring these therapies to patients who urgently need them.”
QurCan’s TERP platform enables systemic, repeat-dosable and targeted delivery of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and oligonucleotide payloads to relevant cells.
Last month, the US Food and Drug Administration granted breakthrough therapy designation to Lilly’s olomorasib as a potential treatment for adults with advanced pancreatic cancer who have already received at least one prior systemic therapy.
