Biocon, Quark tie up to develop eye drug

Companies have entered into a licensing and collaboration agreement for the development of a range of siRNA based novel therapeutics

Biocon Ltd, and Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a global player in the discovery and development of therapeutics based on siRNA (small interfering)-RNA, have entered into a licensing and collaboration pact for developing a range of siRNA-based novel therapeutics.  The financial terms of the pact were not disclosed. This arrangement will allow Biocon to co-develop, manufacture and commercialise QPI-1007, a novel siRNA drug candidate for ophthalmic conditions, for India and other key markets.

siRNA is a class of RNA or Ribonucleic acid which is a family of large biological molecules that perform multiple vital roles in the coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. Biocon will have access to Quark’s proprietary siRNA technology platform that can be leveraged for developing novel therapeutics for various medical needs.

QPI-1007 is being developed for ‘ocular neuroprotection’ (protecting nerves relating to the eye) in NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy) and acute angle closure glaucoma. It has completed a phase I and IIa first-in-human, open label, single-dose, dose escalation, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic study conducted at 16 centres in the USA and five centres in Israel. The study, according to a release from the company, showed that QPI-1007 was safe and exhibits strong neuroprotective activity in NAION patients.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. The nerve damage and visual loss from glaucoma is said to be irreversible.

Neuroprotection has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy in glaucoma to promote survival of retinal ganglion cells.

In India, it has been estimated that glaucoma affects 12 million people, hence, accounting for 12.8 per cent of the country’s blindness and by 2020, this is expected to reach 16 million.

Population-based studies report its prevalence between 2 per cent and 13 per cent in India, and over 90 per cent of glaucoma is undiagnosed.

Statistics say one in eight persons above the age of 40 years in India either suffers from glaucoma or is at risk. Over 2.5 million people are detected with primary angle closure glaucoma. Glaucoma can affect any age group, including newborn, infants, children and elderly according to a paper from Sankara Nethralaya.

“Our joint development efforts on QPI-1007, targeting ocular neuroprotection aims at providing relief to several patients suffering from serious ophthalmic conditions. We hope to use this technology for developing several other novel therapeutics,” said Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairperson and managing director, Biocon.

A team of scientists from Quark and Biocon will jointly work on the development of QPI-1007, and the additional novel pipeline.