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news.Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has granted Calando Pharmaceuticals, a majority-owned subsidiary of Arrowhead Research Corporation, a license to discover, develop, and commercialize an RNA interference therapeutic directed towards a cancer target.
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RNA interference, or RNAi, is a naturally occurring mechanism within cells for selectively silencing and regulating specific genes. Since many diseases are caused by the inappropriate activity of specific genes, the ability to silence genes selectively through RNAi could provide a new way to treat a wide range of human diseases.
Detailed financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but include upfront, annual, and milestone payments, and royalties on sales of any products covered by the licensing agreement.
As part of the agreement, Calando also has an option to acquire an InterfeRx license for a second target gene.
Alnylam created the InterfeRx licensing program to grant licenses under this intellectual property to biotech and pharmaceutical companies wishing to pursue RNAi therapeutics against specific targets outside Alnylam’s core strategic interests. In addition to Calando, Alnylam’s InterfeRx licensees include Nastech Pharmaceutical, GeneCare Research Institute, and, under an option agreement, Benitec.