Elsie Biotechnologies has signed a research collaboration agreement with GSK to accelerate the development of its oligonucleotide discovery platform.
The collaboration brings together GSK’s expertise in DNA-encoded library technologies and Elsie’s drug discovery platform to seek new oligonucleotides optimised for safety, efficacy and delivery,
Elsie Biotechnologies chief operating officer Kevin Green stated: “Our next-generation oligonucleotide therapeutics, which include RNA medicines, enable new opportunities to treat intractable human diseases, including those with no current or limited therapeutic options.
“This collaboration combines GSK’s expertise as leaders in the field of DNA-encoded library technologies with the unique capabilities of Elsie’s scientists and discovery platform with P(V) [pressure/volume] chemistry with the goal to discover new RNA medicines.”
Elsie will receive an upfront collaboration payment from GSK for undertaking initial research activities.
During the research period, GSK may choose to exercise an option for a non-exclusive licence from Elsie for the discovery platform and P(V) chemistry technologies to be deployed in its own oligonucleotide drug discovery research.
Upon exercising this option, GSK will be required to make additional payments, including licensing fees and development and commercial milestones.
Elsie’s discovery platform is an ultra-high throughput proprietary process that enables thorough analysis of oligonucleotide chemical space.
By leveraging proprietary encoding technology to oligonucleotide therapeutic candidates, it becomes feasible to evaluate all possible sequences or chemical modification patterns to raise activity, reduce toxicity and enhance delivery.
Elsie also leverages proprietary P(V) chemistry technologies covering a host of novel re-agents and processes, to synthesise varied oligonucleotide therapeutics with full synthetic control.