Bioverativ and Bicycle Therapeutics partner on hemophilia and sickle cell disease

Biotech companies Bioverativ (Nasdaq: BIVV), and Bicycle Therapeutics, based in the USA and UK respectively, have entered into a research collaboration focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies for hemophilia and sickle cell disease.

The collaboration will seek to identify and develop proprietary bicyclic peptide (Bicycles) to treat rare blood disorders. Bicycles are a new therapeutic modality that combine attributes of antibodies, small molecules and peptides within one molecule, enabling high selectivity and affinity while simultaneously being able to penetrate and bind to the target(s) of interest within the body.

Bicycle will be responsible for leading initial discovery activities through lead optimization to candidate selection for two programs. Bioverativ, the spin-out of which from biotech major Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) was completed in February this year, will lead preclinical and clinical development, as well as subsequent marketing and commercialization. Bioverativ will reimburse Bicycle for internal and external program-related costs.