CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kymera
Therapeutics Inc. today announced the company has entered into a
multi-program strategic collaboration with Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) to
develop and commercialize first-in-class protein degrader therapies
targeting IRAK4 in patients with immune-inflammatory diseases.
The companies will also partner on a second earlier
stage program. Kymera will receive $150
million in cash upfront and may receive more than
$2 billion in potential development,
regulatory and sales milestones, as well as significant royalty
payments. Kymera retains the option to participate in US
development and commercialization for both programs. This includes
the ability to participate equally in the costs, profits and losses
after opt-in, and to co-promote partnered products in the US.
"This is an important collaboration for both companies and for
the field of targeted protein degradation," said Nello Mainolfi, Ph.D., co-founder, President and
CEO of Kymera Therapeutics. "Kymera is becoming a fully integrated
biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of novel therapies with
the potential to transform treatment paradigms. We are excited to
partner with Sanofi, an organization with world-class drug
development and commercialization capabilities, to ensure maximal
patient impact from two of our programs across multiple disease
indications, while enabling Kymera to invest in key strategic areas
to realize the broad potential of protein degrader therapies."
Under terms of the collaboration, Sanofi will make an upfront
payment of $150 million in cash to
Kymera for global rights to develop its small molecule IRAK4
protein degraders in inflammation and immunology indications, and a
second earlier stage undisclosed program. IRAK4 is believed to play
a key role in multiple immune-inflammatory diseases, including
hidradenitis suppurativa, atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid
arthritis. Kymera will advance the IRAK4 program through Phase 1
clinical trials; Sanofi will assume clinical development and
commercialization responsibilities thereafter. Sanofi will lead all
clinical development activities for the second program. Kymera will
have the option to participate in the development of both programs
in the US during clinical development. Kymera will retain global
rights to its IRAK4 program in oncology indications.
IRAK4 is a key protein involved in inflammation mediated by the
activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and IL-1 receptors
(IL-1Rs). While TLR and IL-1R signaling via IRAK4 is involved in
the normal immune response, aberrant activation of these pathways
is the underlying cause of multiple immune-inflammatory conditions.
In pre-clinical studies, Kymera has shown oral daily administration
of an IRAK4 degrader can lead to complete knockdown of IRAK4 in
skin and immune cells in higher species and is well tolerated. Data
presented at the most recent annual meetings of the American
College of Rheumatology and the European Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Foundation showed potent anti-inflammatory activity in both in
vitro and in vivo preclinical models.
"Targeted protein degradation is an exciting modality. Kymera
has developed an incredible drug discovery engine producing protein
degraders with compelling and differentiated pharmacology against
targets that, to date, have not been optimally addressed with other
therapeutic modalities," said John
Reed, Global Head of Research & Development at Sanofi.
"We are excited to partner with the Kymera team to advance a new
generation of first-in-class therapies with the potential to
eliminate underlying drivers of disease."
Aquilo Partners, L.P. acted as financial advisor to Kymera on
this transaction.
About Kymera Therapeutics
Kymera Therapeutics is a
biotechnology company pioneering a transformative new approach to
treating previously untreatable diseases. The company is advancing
the field of targeted protein degradation, accessing the body's
innate protein recycling machinery to degrade dysregulated,
disease-causing proteins. Kymera's Pegasus targeted protein
degradation platform harnesses the body's natural protein recycling
machinery to degrade disease-causing proteins, with a focus on
un-drugged nodes in validated pathways currently inaccessible with
conventional therapeutics. Kymera is accelerating drug discovery
with an unmatched ability to target and degrade the most
intractable of proteins, and advance new treatment options for
patients. For more information, visit www.kymeratx.com.
About Sanofi
Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people
through their health challenges. We are a global pharmaceutical
company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines,
provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We
stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions
with long-term chronic conditions. With more than 100,000 people in
100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into
healthcare solutions around the globe. Sanofi, empowering life. For
more information, visit www.sanofi.com.
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SOURCE Kymera Therapeutics Inc.