DEAL SPOTLIGHT: Shape Therapeutics
Collaboration Between Shape Therapeutics and Roche
* Deal upfront and milestone break-out not disclosed
Our spotlight deal from across the industry is the $3 billion strategic research collaboration between Shape Therapeutics and Roche to advance RNA-editing technology for neuroscience and rare disease indications. We think this deal is noteworthy as it demonstrates the tremendous continued interest in RNA-editing and RNA therapies.
Driven by the success of Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna’s RNA vaccines for COVID-19, there has been keen interest in further advancing the field of therapeutic RNA beyond vaccines. In the field of genetic diseases, Moderna and others are using their platform to replace diseased genes through the introduction of RNA molecules, encoding healthy copies of dysfunctional genes.
Similar to the concept pioneered by CRISPR companies to directly edit a patient’s DNA, Shape uses its technology to edit RNA molecules in a patient's cells. Likened by some as “CRISPR for RNA” Shape’s technology can seek out and replace mutations within RNA that lead to diseased protein products. Given the amount of attention and focus given to CRISPR, it is no surprise this technology has seen early interest from pharma. Notably, not long after the Shape deal, ADARx, a company with another RNA editing platform, raised a $75M series B in early September, suggesting substantial interest from the VC and consolidator side is to come.
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FINANCING IN RNA (2016-Present)
* 2021 data is year-to-date
* Excludes debt financing
* From September 2016 – Present (5 year time frame)
* Source: Biomedtracker