Novosom acquires rights to Isis’s antisense inhibitors

This deal exercises an option agreement signed in February 2007 between the two companies and provides Novosom with exclusive, worldwide and sub-licensable access to certain of Isis’s proprietary antisense oligonucleotides targeting CD40 as well as a non-exclusive worldwide and sub-licensable access to certain aspects of Isis’s core technology patents.

This includes the second generation antisense chemistry, specifically 2′ MOE oligonucleotides for these inhibitors. In return, Isis will receive financial considerations including an upfront exercise fee, milestone payments and royalties.

Novosom plans to target CD40, a well established target for both inflammatory diseases and B-cell cancers, for indications such as Crohn’s disease, organ transplant or rheumatoid arthritis. Novosom will use its proprietary Smarticles technology to enhance the systemic delivery of antisense targeting CD40.

Steffen Panzner, founder and chief scientific officer of Novosom, said: “This will be the second systemically delivered oligonucleotide drug using our Smarticles technology to enter the clinic. Our agreement with Isis Pharmaceuticals allows us to further expand the current established safety and efficacy of our Smarticles delivery platform.”