Alnylam and Cubist form R&D collaboration

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-specific RNAi therapeutic program includes ALN-RSV01, which is currently in Phase II clinical development for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection in adult lung transplant patients, as well as several other potent and specific second-generation RNAi-based RSV inhibitors in preclinical studies.

The collaboration is structured as a 50/50 co-development and profit share arrangement in North America, and a milestone- and royalty-bearing license arrangement in the rest of the world outside of Asia, where ALN-RSV is partnered with Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co.

Alnylam will receive an upfront payment of $20 million. In addition, Alnylam is eligible to receive development and sales milestone payments from Cubist that could total $82.5 million, for a total in upfront and potential milestone payments of $102.5 million, as well as double digit royalties on net sales outside of North America and Asia.

After achieving certain development milestones, Alnylam could convert the North American co-development and profit share to a royalty-bearing license with development and sales milestones. Cubist will have sole rights for commercialization of the ALN-RSV program worldwide outside of Asia, subject to the cost and profit sharing in North America.

Michael Bonney, president and CEO of Cubist, said: We expect that this collaboration will leverage the development expertise and commercial success we have achieved in the area of infectious disease. There is significant need for novel therapeutics to effectively treat patients with RSV infection. We are convinced that developing a treatment for RSV infection is an important therapeutic and commercial opportunity, and, like Alnylam, are committed to addressing this need.