Monte Rosa partners with Novartis for 'molecular glue' drug deal

Novartis has committed $150 million to acquire the rights to molecular glue degraders being developed by Monte Rosa Therapeutics. These degraders are designed to target an immune signaling protein known as VAV1, which has been notoriously difficult to address with traditional drugs. The collaboration between the two companies, revealed on Monday, could potentially result in up to $2.1 billion in additional payments contingent on the achievement of specific development, regulatory, and commercial milestones.

Molecular glue degraders are a class of small molecule drugs that work by binding a target protein to an enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for marking cellular waste for degradation. Monte Rosa's approach involves using these degraders to disrupt the function of VAV1, which in turn could impair certain immune cell activities and potentially slow the progression of diseases driven by immune system malfunction.

The partnership focuses on a drug candidate named MRT-6160, which is in an early phase of clinical testing involving healthy volunteers. Both companies believe that MRT-6160 could be effective in treating a range of systemic and neurological autoimmune diseases. Monte Rosa will complete the current Phase 1 trial, after which Novartis will take over the subsequent development phases. Additionally, Monte Rosa will share the costs and potential profits or losses of any Phase 3 trials and the commercialization of MRT-6160, should it advance to that stage.

Fiona Marshall, who oversees biomedical research at Novartis, expressed enthusiasm for the potential of molecular glue degraders to address complex biological targets. She noted the significant early progress Monte Rosa has made, particularly with MRT-6160. Markus Warmuth, CEO of Monte Rosa, highlighted that Novartis' involvement would allow the company to better explore MRT-6160's potential across various immune-mediated disorders. The $150 million upfront payment from Novartis will also support Monte Rosa's operational and research activities.

Apart from VAV1, Monte Rosa is investigating other target proteins such as NEK7, CDK2, and CCNE1 using its molecular glue technology. The company has previously collaborated with Roche, Novartis' competitor, to apply these degraders to cancer and neurological conditions. Additionally, various biotechnology firms are also exploring this drug concept and have formed partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Astellas, and Bristol Myers Squibb.