Flare Therapeutics Partners with Roche for Strategic Discovery Collaboration

GordonMD® Global Investments LP has announced that its portfolio company, Flare Therapeutics Inc., has initiated a strategic discovery collaboration with Roche. This partnership focuses on discovering and developing new treatments for cancer by targeting transcription factors, which are proteins involved in the regulation of gene expression. Flare Therapeutics will lead the discovery and preclinical efforts, while Roche will handle the subsequent preclinical and clinical development, as well as the commercialization of the resulting products.

Flare Therapeutics brings to the table its advanced proteomic and mass spectrometry platform, which is enhanced by a proprietary library of electrophilic compounds. This technology allows Flare to identify small molecule drugs that can target transcription factors, an area that has been challenging to drug in the field of oncology. By combining this innovative approach with Roche’s extensive experience in developing and manufacturing cancer medicines, the collaboration aims to create new and potentially transformative therapies for cancer patients.

Under the terms of the agreement, Flare Therapeutics will receive an upfront cash payment of $70 million. Additionally, the company is eligible for further payments based on the achievement of certain discovery, development, and commercialization milestones, which could total more than $1.8 billion. Flare will also receive royalties on any resulting products. Furthermore, Flare has the option to co-fund the development of one target in exchange for increased royalties in the United States for that particular target.

Flare will maintain control of its current pipeline, which includes its lead clinical-stage program, FX-909, designed to treat advanced urothelial cancer. The company also has a prostate cancer program that is entering IND-enabling studies, along with other programs in various stages of discovery and early development, addressing both oncology and other therapeutic areas.

Dr. Craig Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of GordonMD® Global Investments, emphasized the significance of this collaboration in advancing Flare's scientific breakthroughs. Rob Sims, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder of Flare Therapeutics, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with Roche, highlighting a shared commitment to developing novel approaches for treating challenging diseases and overcoming the hurdles associated with targeting transcription factors with drugs.

GordonMD® Global Investments LP, founded in 2021 by Dr. Craig Gordon, is a firm dedicated to identifying unique investment opportunities in biopharmaceutical companies, predominantly in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Dr. Gordon, a licensed physician, has over 14 years of experience managing global biopharmaceutical portfolios from the buy-side. The firm’s strategic focus lies in supporting companies that demonstrate differentiated and transformative potential in the biopharmaceutical sector.

This collaboration between Flare Therapeutics and Roche represents a significant step forward in the quest to develop innovative cancer therapies, leveraging the strengths and expertise of both companies to potentially bring new hope to patients battling cancer.