Dicerna’s latest deal lands $200M, Roche as partner in HBV

A year after completing a pair of deals in the span of a week, Dicerna has partnered a Phase I HBV asset with Roche in an RNAi deal that brings in $200 million up front. The partnership continues the company’s string of partnerships in therapeutic areas outside of its scope, allowing it to focus on its rare disease pipeline.

Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) will receive exclusive, worldwide rights to DCR-HBVS from Dicerna Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:DRNA), which also is eligible for up to $1.5 billion in milestones and royalties in the mid-teens. Dicerna has an option to co-fund development of DCR-HBVS and receive enhanced royalties. The companies will also collaborate to discover additional HBV therapies...