NEW YORK – Novo Nordisk and NanoVation Therapeutics on Wednesday announced a multiyear partnership to develop multiple genetic medicines for cardiometabolic and rare diseases.
As part of the deal, Vancouver-based NanoVation will receive an unspecified amount of research funding from Novo Nordisk and is eligible for up to $600 million in upfront cash and potential milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on sales of any products that are commercialized by Novo Nordisk.
The companies will collaborate on two lead programs focused on treating certain rare genetic diseases using base editing. Bagsværd, Denmark-headquartered Novo Nordisk will receive an exclusive, worldwide license to use NanoVation's long-circulating lipid nanoparticle (lcLNP) technology in these development programs.
The lcLNP technology can deliver nucleic acids to numerous cell types outside of the liver. "We founded NanoVation to enable partners to overcome the challenges of conventional nucleic acid delivery systems," NanoVation CEO and Cofounder Dominik Witzigmann said in a statement, adding that the firm is partnering with other players in the cell and gene therapy space to demonstrate the potential of its LNP technologies and facilitate the development of next-generation genetic medicines.
In addition to the two lead programs, Novo Nordisk and NanoVation will also work on advancing up to five therapeutic targets for future development in cardiometabolic and rare diseases.