Boehringer, MiNA strike NASH development deal

Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH (Ingelheim, Germany) partnered with MiNA Therapeutics Ltd. (London, U.K.) to develop therapeutics to treat fibrotic liver disease using MiNA’s small activating RNA (saRNA) technology. The partners' deal is worth up to €307 million ($355.7 million). MiNA will receive an upfront payment and R&D funding and is eligible for milestones, plus royalties up to double digits.

The companies will identify targets that restore hepatocyte metabolic function and prevent fibrotic tissue formation in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). MiNA’s saRNAs are designed to recruit endogenous transcription complexes to a target gene to increase naturally processed mRNA expression and replicate full functionality of the gene...