MTARC1

Lilly gained a connection to AdvanCell when it bought Point Biopharma. \n Eli Lilly has begun the week with a bang. Early Monday morning, AdvanCell and OliX Pharmaceuticals put out news that the Big Pharma is coughing up cash to work with them on radiopharmaceuticals and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), respectively.The deal with OliX gives Lilly global rights to OLX75016, a siRNA candidate that targets the expression of the MARC1 enzyme. OliX selected the target after looking at genomic variants linked to MASH and other liver diseases. The Korean biotech is running a phase 1 trial of the candidate in healthy volunteers, and Lilly will pay for OliX to complete the study.Striking the global licensing agreement moves Lilly deeper into siRNA and MASH. The drugmaker showed its interest in siRNA and related modalities last year by opening a $700 million nucleic acid R&D center in the Boston Seaport.Tirzepatide, the GLP-1 drug in Mounjaro and Zepbound, is Lilly’s highest-profile MASH candidate. Lilly reported phase 2 MASH data in June and later outlined its attempts to find biomarkers that can support accelerated FDA approvals in the liver disease. The company’s early-phase pipeline, which includes siRNA inhibitors of SCAP and PNPLA3, could benefit from the investments. Lilly gained a connection to AdvanCell, an Australian radiopharmaceutical company when it bought Point Biopharma for $1.4 billion in 2023. Point partnered with AdvanCell earlier that year, securing a chance to collaborate on the development of lead-212-labeled radioligands. The new deal builds on the existing pact to support the development of an expanded portfolio of lead-212 targeted alpha therapies.AdvanCell’s star has risen since it began working with Point in 2023. Last week, the biotech disclosed a $112 million series C that was co-led by SV Health Investors, Sanofi Ventures, Abingworth and SymBiosis. AdvanCell’s pipeline is led by a would-be challenger to Novartis’ prostate cancer drug Pluvicto.

SEONGNAM, South Korea--( BUSINESS WIRE )-- OliX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (KOSDAQ: 226950), a leading developer of RNAi therapeutics, today announced a global licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (“Lilly”). This collaboration focuses on the development and commercialization of OliX’s OLX75016, a Phase 1 candidate primarily targeting metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and other cardiometabolic indications. OliX will receive an initial payment from Lilly to complete the Phase 1 clinical trial, currently underway in Australia. OLX75016 derives from a robust target discovered through a genome-wide association study (GWAS), a research approach for identifying genomic variants in large populations. In preclinical studies, OliX has demonstrated the efficacy of OLX75016 in addressing both MASH and liver fibrosis, as well as other cardiometabolic indications. OliX is currently developing OLX75016 as a novel therapeutic in treating MASH accompanied by liver fibrosis, and other cardiometabolic indications. Dong Ki Lee, Ph.D., CEO of OliX Pharmaceuticals, commented, “This collaboration with Lilly marks a significant step forward for OLX75016’s development and its potential to improve treatment outcomes for a range of metabolic conditions - MASH and other cardiometabolic indications. Partnering with an industry leader like Lilly enables us to advance innovative solutions that address medical needs with a strong focus on both efficacy and safety. Together, we aim to develop therapies that offer meaningful benefits for patients and drive progress in metabolic health.” About OliX Pharmaceuticals OliX Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics against a variety of disorders by down-regulating the expression of disease-causing genes based on its own proprietary RNAi technology. The Company’s core RNAi platform, asymmetric siRNA (asiRNA), is a unique gene silencing technology based on RNA interference (RNAi), which is considered the most efficient gene silencing technology. Utilizing this proprietary asiRNA technology, OliX has developed cell penetrating asiRNA (cp-asiRNA), a therapeutic RNAi platform to effectively target diseases including hypertrophic scarring, dry and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and subretinal fibrosis. OliX has also developed another therapeutic RNAi platform, GalNAc-asiRNA, to target a variety of liver diseases. Learn more: https://www.oliXpharma.com/eng

- Australia phase 1 clinical trials on 70 healthy + NAFLD participants - OLX75016’s safety and tolerability to be evaluated - Demonstrated enhanced weight loss effects when administered with GLP-1 obesity drug - Additional nonclinical study is ongoing to identify weight-managing efficacy of OLX75016-dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists combi treatment SUWON, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- OliX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (KOSDAQ: 226950), a leading developer of RNAi therapeutics, today announced that the first participant was dosed today with OLX75016. OLX75016 is being developed to provide a novel treatment approach for metabolic dysfunctions associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease linked to obesity. The phase 1 trial is ongoing in Brisbane, Australia. The safety and tolerability of OLX75016 is being evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single and multiple ascending dose study in healthy volunteers and early-stage patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. OLX75016 acts as a mechanism to reduce liver fat content as well as inflammation and liver fibrosis which is frequently found in obese individuals. This development program is based on emerging Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data that suggest certain genes to play a key role in these processes. This human genetic evidence was corroborated in a series of nonclinical studies. The Company showed data supporting the utility of OLX75016 either as mono-therapy or in combination with a GLP-1 receptor agonist or a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist for MASH and weight management. Dong Ki Lee, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of OliX Pharmaceuticals, said, "With the obesity market expected to reach $100 bn by 2030, many companies opt to develop GLP-1/GIP agonists for their weight management therapies. Given a differentiated mechanism of action, OLX75016 demonstrates its robust multimodality potential not just for additive weight loss effects but for NASH and liver fibrosis alleviation. This is how we believe OLX75016 is set apart, and we anticipate this novel therapeutic to bring hope to patients with multiple metabolic diseases, starting in phase 1 clinical trial." About OliX Pharmaceuticals OliX Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics against a variety of disorders by down-regulating the expression of disease-causing genes based on its own proprietary RNAi technology. Learn more: