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DRNA> Roche takes aim at hepatitis B, striking R&D deal with Dicerna

https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/roche-dicerna-hepatitis-b-research-deal/566252/

Roche is partnering with Dicerna Pharmaceuticals to develop therapies aimed at curing chronic hepatitis B, announcing Thursday an R&D deal to advance the biotech's experimental RNA interference drug.

The Swiss pharma will pay Dicerna $200 million, with promises for up to $1.47 billion more in milestone payments tied to development of the RNAi therapeutic, called DCR-HBVS and now in Phase 1 testing. Deal terms also give Roche an option to pursue as many as five additional targets for hepatitis B via Dicerna's platform.

The collaboration with Roche is Dicerna's fourth with a major drugmaker, following deals with Eli Lilly, Alexion and Boehringer Ingelheim.