WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) said it formed strategic collaboration with Ascletis Pharmaceuticals (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd., a privately held US-China joint venture pharmaceutical company, for the development of ALN-VSP, a first-in-class, systemically delivered RNAi therapeutic for the treatment of liver cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma, a significant area of unmet need in China.
This collaboration provides Ascletis with the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize ALN-VSP in China including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Alnylam will retain all rights in the rest of the world, and is eligible to receive milestones and royalties based on product sales.
The initial focus will be on advancing ALN-VSP into a Phase II study for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Ascletis will diligently advance ALN-VSP, and as the program progresses, Ascletis will pay Alnylam development and commercial milestones and royalties on net sales in the Ascletis territory. Alnylam retains all rights to develop and commercialize the product in the rest of the world.
Alnylam may use the data generated in China by Ascletis under this strategic collaboration for development of ALN-VSP in the rest of the world. No further financial details were disclosed.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
