AprilBio takes 25% of Qurient in ₩2.89B bet on RNA therapeutics
What's the deal? AprilBio has acquired a 25.26% stake in Qurient for 2.89 billion won, becoming the developer's second-largest shareholder. The move marks AprilBio's entry into the ribonucleic acid (RNA) therapeutics market.
What's the endgame? The deal secures AprilBio an option and joint-development priority rights to Qurient's short interfering RNA (siRNA) platform. That technology is central to the antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate (AOC) AprilBio is developing by applying its REMAP antibody platform to Qurient's dual-targeting siRNA.
AOC binds oligonucleic acid to an antibody to deliver RNA therapeutics to specific tissues and cells. It is drawing attention as a next-generation modality following antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), which combine a chemotherapy agent with an antibody.
Who is Qurient? Founded in 2016, it develops gene therapies for intractable tumors and metabolic disorders using dual-targeting RNA interference (RNAi) technology and recombinant viruses. Its siRNA approach suppresses two or more disease-related genes at once while reducing side effects.
Qurient has backing from LB InvestmentDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Korea Investment PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, DSC InvestmentDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Timefolio, and is pursuing joint drug development with Chong Kun DangDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and GC Cell.
Why now? Big pharma's interest in RNA therapeutics is climbing. After gaining prominence through COVID-19 vaccines, the field has expanded into cancer, rare diseases, and metabolic disorders.
Eli Lilly acquired RNA developer Orna Therapeutics for up to $2.4 billion in February and last month signed a $1.9 billion joint-development agreement with Acidian Therapeutics for kidney-disease RNA therapeutics.
The signal: "It is significant that the REMAP platform is expanding beyond bispecific antibodies and ADC to AOC, a gene therapy," an AprilBio official said, adding it will "concentrate our capabilities on pipelines that align with global market trends such as RNA and that have high commercial value." The stake positions AprilBio to ride a modality that global drugmakers are already spending billions to secure.
Read more: en.sedaily.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
