Post by dnr08 on Jul 12, 2021 12:18:04 GMT
OPKO Health Licenses Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Platform to CAMP4
Therapeutics
MIAMI, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OPKO Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPK) today
announced it has entered into an exclusive worldwide agreement with privately
held CAMP4 Therapeutics Corporation (CAMP4) for the development, manufacture
and commercialization of therapeutics utilizing the AntagoNAT technology, an
oligonucleotide platform developed under OPKO CURNA. AntagoNATs are
oligonucleotide compounds that target non-coding natural antisense transcripts
leading to an upregulation of a desired functional protein. CAMP4 has
prioritized OPKO’s lead AntagoNAT compound to progress into clinical trials
for the treatment of Dravet syndrome.
Under the terms of the agreement, OPKO will receive an upfront payment and
shares of CAMP4. In addition, OPKO will be eligible to receive up to $93.5
million and additional shares upon the achievement of certain development and
sales milestones for products developed from this technology and associated
intellectual property. CAMP4 will also pay OPKO double-digit royalties on
product sales.
“We are delighted to enter into this licensing agreement to accelerate the
development and commercialization of potential disease-modifying therapeutics.
With a clear focus on therapeutics that restore healthy gene expression, CAMP4
has the expertise to advance our Dravet syndrome compound through the
necessary patient trials. This agreement validates our technology and allows
OPKO to focus resources on other areas of our business. We continue to seek
license opportunities to monetize and leverage our early-stage assets,” said
Phillip Frost, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OPKO.
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, Dravet syndrome is a rare,
drug-resistant epilepsy that begins in the first year of life in an otherwise
healthy infant. It is estimated that 1-in-20,000 to 1-in-40,000 individuals
have Dravet syndrome. Most cases are due to SCN1A gene mutations and most
children develop varying degrees of neurodevelopmental disability.
CAMP4 is pioneering a novel approach to programmable therapeutics that
combines a deep understanding of regulatory RNA and gene expression with a
complementary and customizable oligonucleotide modality. The company’s RNA
Actuating Platform’s proprietary insights enable drug discovery and
development that aims to harness the power of RNA to upregulate the expression
of genes and unlock the potential to create treatments for hundreds of
diseases affecting millions of patients.
Therapeutics
MIAMI, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OPKO Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPK) today
announced it has entered into an exclusive worldwide agreement with privately
held CAMP4 Therapeutics Corporation (CAMP4) for the development, manufacture
and commercialization of therapeutics utilizing the AntagoNAT technology, an
oligonucleotide platform developed under OPKO CURNA. AntagoNATs are
oligonucleotide compounds that target non-coding natural antisense transcripts
leading to an upregulation of a desired functional protein. CAMP4 has
prioritized OPKO’s lead AntagoNAT compound to progress into clinical trials
for the treatment of Dravet syndrome.
Under the terms of the agreement, OPKO will receive an upfront payment and
shares of CAMP4. In addition, OPKO will be eligible to receive up to $93.5
million and additional shares upon the achievement of certain development and
sales milestones for products developed from this technology and associated
intellectual property. CAMP4 will also pay OPKO double-digit royalties on
product sales.
“We are delighted to enter into this licensing agreement to accelerate the
development and commercialization of potential disease-modifying therapeutics.
With a clear focus on therapeutics that restore healthy gene expression, CAMP4
has the expertise to advance our Dravet syndrome compound through the
necessary patient trials. This agreement validates our technology and allows
OPKO to focus resources on other areas of our business. We continue to seek
license opportunities to monetize and leverage our early-stage assets,” said
Phillip Frost, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OPKO.
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, Dravet syndrome is a rare,
drug-resistant epilepsy that begins in the first year of life in an otherwise
healthy infant. It is estimated that 1-in-20,000 to 1-in-40,000 individuals
have Dravet syndrome. Most cases are due to SCN1A gene mutations and most
children develop varying degrees of neurodevelopmental disability.
CAMP4 is pioneering a novel approach to programmable therapeutics that
combines a deep understanding of regulatory RNA and gene expression with a
complementary and customizable oligonucleotide modality. The company’s RNA
Actuating Platform’s proprietary insights enable drug discovery and
development that aims to harness the power of RNA to upregulate the expression
of genes and unlock the potential to create treatments for hundreds of
diseases affecting millions of patients.
