Alnylam Grants New InterfeRx IP License to Calando

CAMBRIDGE, MASS - Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced in a Monday press release that it has granted Calando Pharmaceuticals Inc. a new target-specific InterfeRx license to discover, develop, and commercialize a synthetic siRNA directed toward an undisclosed cancer gene target.

The new non-exclusive, gene-specific license agreement includes an Alnylam right of first negotiation to opt-in for co-development and co-commercialization of the RNAi therapeutic product in the US market.

Detailed financial terms were not disclosed, but include upfront, and milestone payments, and royalties on sales of any products covered by the licensing agreement.

"We are pleased to be granting Calando a new InterfeRx license, providing them access to Alnylam Intellectual Property, which we believe is critical for the development and commercialization of all RNAi therapeutic products," Vice President, Business Development of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Jason Rhodes said.

"Calando has demonstrated exciting progress with the only clinical stage RNAi therapeutic oncology program, currently in Phase I trials, and we are encouraged by the potential for similar success with this new target,” he added.

“Calando exemplifies the progress in our InterfeRx program, an important part of our overall strategy to create value today by leveraging our Intellectual Property portfolio for the development of RNAi therapeutics," Rhodes continued.

Alnylam created the InterfeRx licensing program to grant licenses under its IP to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies wishing to pursue RNAi therapeutics against specific targets outside Alnylam's core strategic interests.

RNAi is a revolution in biology, representing a breakthrough in understanding how genes are turned on and off in cells, and a completely new approach to drug discovery and development.

Alnylam is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics based on RNA interference, or RNAi.