GlaxoSmithKline strikes deal with therapeutics company

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced an agreement with Sirna Therapeutics, the clinical-stage biotechnology company.

The alliance, a multi-year deal, concerns the “discovery, development and commercialisation” of therapeutics that are RNA interference (RNAi)-based. The treatment is used for respiratory diseases.

“This alliance will expedite the development of novel therapeutics with potential use in a number of respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD,” said Dr Garth Rapeport, senior vice president, Respiratory & Inflammation CEDD, at GSK.

“We recognise Sirna’s leadership in the area of RNAi-based therapeutics and hope for the potential benefits this research will bring to patients.”

GSK will initially pay Sirna $12 million through the purchase of stock and the payment of cash to the company. Milestone payments could total as much as $700 million.

The therapeutics company’s short interfering RNA (siRNA) will be provided to GSK, optimised for specific targets. GSK will then handle preclinical and clinical trials and the commercialisation of any product.

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