Inex, Alnylam Enter RNAi Delivery Pact

Inex Pharmaceuticals has signed an exclusive research collaboration agreement with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals to evaluate use of Alnylam’s RNAi therapeutics with Inex’s systemic liposomal delivery technology. The collaboration will evaluate multiple targets including apolipoprotein B (apoB), a protein involved in cholesterol metabolism. The agreement will build on preliminary data published by Alnylam and Nature magazine, showing that the systemic delivery of an apoB RNAi therapeutic significantly reduced blood cholesterol levels.

Under the terms of the agreement, Alnylam has the option to execute a global exclusive license for specific RNAi therapeutic targets. The license agreement would include upfront license fees, future milestone payments and royalties as the products are commercialized. Alnylam also has the right to expand the option to negotiate license terms for additional targets. The exercise of the license option is dependent on the successful completion of the research collaboration and the completion of Inex’s spinout of its Targeted Immunotherapy technology into Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp. Tekmira would provide the required personnel and funding to support the research collaboration and license agreement.