OliX licenses out RNA-based MASH drug technology to Lilly

OliX Pharmaceuticals will transfer 'OLX702A,’ a MASH and obesity drug candidate, for a total contract amount of KRW 900 billion

OliX, a company developing RNA-based new drugs, has transferred its metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and obesity drug candidate to the multinational pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.

 

On the 7th, OliX announced that it had signed a joint development and technology export agreement with Lilly for its MASH and obesity drug candidate 'OLX75016 (OLX702A)'.

 

The total contract size is USD 630 million (about KRW 911.7 billion).

 

The amount is the sum of the upfront payment and the development and commercialization milestones based on clinical progress.

 

Details such as the proportion of the upfront payment were not disclosed.

 

Under the agreement, OliX will continue with the Phase 1 clinical trial of OLX75016.

 

Lilly will be responsible for other research, development, and commercialization.

 

The agreement includes a provision that, upon signing, OliX will grant an exclusive license to Lilly.

 

Specifically, if OliX develops a treatment that targets the 'MARC1' gene and one or more other genes involved in MASH simultaneously, Lilly will have priority rights to that treatment.

 

The company explained that the total size of the contract could increase or exclusive negotiations could be conducted according to the clinical progress.

 

OLX75016 is a candidate for the treatment of obesity and MASH, which is based on double-stranded small interfering RNAs (siRNA) technology.

 

OLX702A is being developed as a subcutaneous injection formulation for the treatment of obesity that is administered once every 3 months.

 

Results of OLX702A in obese animal model (Source: OliX)

OliX is currently conducting a Phase I trial in Australia for OLX75016.

 

It began administering the first patient for the Phase I trial in February last year.

 

In May of the same year, it completed a change in the clinical trial protocol to add patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to the trial subjects to ensure safety and preliminary efficacy.

 

The company aims to complete the first phase of clinical trials this year.

 

OliX previously confirmed the effects of OLX702A on improving fatty liver and liver fibrosis and weight loss in preclinical studies.

 

OliX also confirmed the weight loss synergistic effect when OLX702A in combination with Lilly's ‘Zepbound’ in a high-fat diet obesity mouse model.

 

Zepbound is a dual agonist that simultaneously activates the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor and the Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor.