Gensaic Partners with Novo Nordisk in $354M Deal to Advance Precision Therapies for Cardiometabolic Diseases

Gensaic, Inc. has entered a collaboration with Novo Nordisk to explore next-generation precision therapies aimed at treating cardiometabolic diseases. The partnership, which could be worth up to $354 million, includes upfront payments, development and commercial milestone payments, and tiered royalties per target. Additionally, Novo Nordisk will reimburse research and development costs and participate in a future financing round.

Leveraging Novo Nordisk’s Expertise and Gensaic’s FORGE Engine for Tissue-Selective Intracellular Delivery of Therapeutic Molecules in Cardiometabolic Diseases

Privately-held Gensaic, a biotech company based in Cambridge, USA, has announced a potentially lucrative license and discovery partnership with Denmark’s Novo Nordisk (NVO). The collaboration combines Novo Nordisk’s extensive expertise in therapeutics and drug development with Gensaic’s FORGE engine, a proprietary technology for tissue-selective intracellular delivery of therapeutic molecules. The partnership aims to discover novel tissue-targeting ligands and develop therapeutic candidates for treating cardiometabolic diseases through undisclosed targets.

Gensaic is set to receive up to $354 million through upfront payments, development milestones, and commercial milestones for each target, along with tiered royalties. Novo Nordisk will also cover R&D costs, participate in a future financing round, and appoint an executive to Gensaic’s board as a non-voting observer. In the collaboration, Gensaic will discover new protein ligands, while Novo Nordisk will retain the rights to further develop and leverage these ligands. The agreement includes Novo Nordisk’s license and option rights to advance multiple therapeutic programs through research, development, and commercialization.

Optimizing Protein Interactions through Machine-Guided Design for Targeted Intracellular Delivery

This partnership aims to discover novel tissue-targeting ligands and develop therapeutic candidates for treating cardiometabolic conditions through undisclosed targets. Essentially, Gensaic aims to enable the selective delivery of any therapeutic payload to specific tissues of interest.

Tissue targeting plays a crucial role in the development of precision medicines by allowing drugs to be delivered to specific organs or cell types, yet challenges remain in targeting beyond the liver. Gensaic’s Functional Optimization by Recursive Genetic Evolution (FORGE) technology, which integrates protein evolution with machine-guided design, addresses these challenges by optimizing protein interactions that dictate how therapeutic molecules travel within the body.

Gensaic’s CEO, Dr. Lavi Erisson, expressed that the partnership with Novo Nordisk strengthens the potential of Gensaic’s technology and accelerates the development of their innovative pipeline. Novo Nordisk’s deep understanding of therapeutic markets complements Gensaic’s scientific capabilities, enabling the pursuit of previously challenging therapeutic targets while enhancing efficacy and minimizing side effects.

Uli Stilz, Head of Novo Nordisk’s Bio Innovation Hub, said “Tissue targeting holds immense potential – not only in terms of the modalities that can be utilized, but also for the range of diseases it can address. Gensaic’s technology brings a novel approach, with the ability to screen tissue targeting ligands in an unbiased way. By coupling Gensaic’s technology with our team’s deep understanding of disease and drug development, we have the potential to reach challenging targets, while increasing efficacy and reducing potential side effects.”

Novo Expands Focus on Intracellular Targeting with Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships

In 2021, Novo intensified its focus on intracellular targets by acquiring Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, a leader in RNA interference (RNAi) technology. Marcus Schindler, Novo’s Chief Scientific Officer, emphasized the need for advanced intracellular technologies, stating, “We do not want to be limited too much when we see novel targets, when we see exciting biology.”

Novo’s acquisition of Dicerna provided access to RNAi-based therapies, initially focusing on liver-specific targets and later expanding to other organs. The collaboration with Gensaic further strengthens this strategy by offering a novel tissue-selective delivery approach. Novo’s interest in Gensaic was piqued at the company’s 2022 Golden Ticket event, where Uli Stilz, Head of Novo Nordisk’s Bio Innovation Hub, served as a judge. This partnership enhances Novo’s ability to deliver therapies precisely to target tissues, advancing their commitment to innovative protein-based treatments for complex diseases.

Global Landscape of Protein Therapies: Key Players and Their Contributions

Protein therapies, also known as biologics, have become a major force in modern medicine. These therapies use proteins or peptides to treat a variety of diseases. Some of the most commonly used protein therapies include monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), insulin, enzyme replacement therapies (ERTs), and blood factor therapies. Monoclonal antibodies like Humira (adalimumab), Herceptin (trastuzumab), and Keytruda (pembrolizumab) are widely used to treat autoimmune diseases, cancer, and other conditions. Insulin therapies like Lantus (insulin glargine) and Humalog (insulin lispro) are essential for managing diabetes. ERTs such as Cerezyme (imiglucerase) and Fabrazyme (agalsidase beta) are life-saving treatments for genetic disorders like Gaucher and Fabry diseases. Blood factor therapies, including Advate (recombinant factor VIII), help patients with bleeding disorders like hemophilia.

The production of these therapies is largely concentrated in key countries, with the United States, Switzerland, Denmark, and Germany leading the charge. In the U.S., companies such as AbbVie, Genentech (a Roche subsidiary), Eli Lilly, and Amgen play major roles in developing monoclonal antibodies, insulin treatments, and hormone therapies. Novo Nordisk, based in Denmark, is a global leader in insulin and hormone-based treatments. Sanofi and Genzyme in France are recognized for their pioneering work in enzyme replacement therapies. German companies like Bayer and Merck are at the forefront of hormone treatments and blood factor therapies, including recombinant therapies for hemophilia.

Additionally, CAR-T cell therapies have become a breakthrough for cancer treatment. Therapies like Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) and Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) offer new hope for cancer patients. These therapies are developed by companies like Novartis, Kite Pharma, and Bristol-Myers Squibb in the U.S., and Roche in Switzerland. The global distribution of these therapies is made possible by biotech hubs in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, ensuring access to biologics that are reshaping the healthcare landscape.

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Author

Bernice Lottering