Bayer inks deal with NextRNA on IncRNA-driven diseases

German pharma major Bayer (BAYN: DE) today announced it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with US biotech start-up NextRNA Therapeutics to develop small molecule therapeutics targeting lncRNAs in oncology.

Bayer pointed out that lncRNAs represent a vast class of therapeutic targets that recruit RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to drive pathological processes across diseases. Disrupting lncRNA-RBP interactions with small molecules represents an innovative approach to develop a new class of therapeutic agents.

The companies will collaborate to jointly advance two oncology programs in high unmet need indications. The first program is a lncRNA-targeting small molecule program currently in early pre-clinical development at NextRNA. For the second program, NextRNA will prosecute lncRNA targets that its platform has already identified, and Bayer will have the option to select one target for joint development.