Lilly and Haya in $1bn lncRNA Obesity Deal

Eli Lilly has entered into a significant partnership with Haya Therapeutics, valued at $1 billion, to identify and develop new RNA-based drug targets aimed at treating obesity. The collaboration will leverage Haya’s proprietary regulatory genome discovery platform, focusing on long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) to uncover potential treatments for obesity and associated metabolic disorders.

Haya Therapeutics, based in Switzerland, has traditionally directed its drug discovery efforts towards diseases such as fibrosis, cardiovascular conditions, metabolic disorders, and cancer. Preclinical studies, including those published in the journal Non-coding RNA Research, have shown that lncRNAs are also involved in the development of adipose cells, which are fat-storage cells, and play a role in obesity.

The key to Haya's approach is its focus on lncRNA and RNA molecules that are at least 200 nucleotides long. These molecules do not code for proteins but regulate gene expression, making them a valuable target for therapeutic intervention. One of Haya’s prominent development candidates, HTX-001, is an antisense oligonucleotide that targets the lncRNA Wisper, which is linked to myocardial fibrosis and heart failure.

Eli Lilly is no stranger to the obesity treatment market. The company's notable drug, tirzepatide, marketed under the names Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for obesity, competes directly with Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide products, Ozempic and Wegovy. According to Lilly’s financial reports, combined sales of Mounjaro and Zepbound reached $5.34 billion last year.

This latest deal is part of a series of strategic moves by Lilly to strengthen its position in the obesity drug market. In July 2023, Lilly announced a $1.92 billion agreement to acquire Versanis, a Boston-based biotech company. Versanis' leading asset, bimagrumab, is a monoclonal antibody that targets activin type II A and B receptors and is currently in a Phase IIb clinical trial. This trial is testing bimagrumab both as a standalone treatment and in combination with semaglutide for individuals who are overweight or obese.

Lilly’s foray into the lncRNA space mirrors moves by other major pharmaceutical companies. Just a week before Lilly’s announcement, Bayer disclosed its $547 million deal with NextRNA, an lncRNA-focused company. Bayer and NextRNA are collaborating on two oncology programs, including one involving a lncRNA-targeting small molecule in early preclinical development and a new target identified by NextRNA’s platform. Bayer retains the option to select one target for joint development.

Samir Ounzain, CEO of Haya Therapeutics, stated that the partnership with Lilly underscores the advancements made through their regulatory genome RNA-guided platform. He highlighted the potential of targeting lncRNA for chronic conditions as validated by this partnership.

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